An employee works at a factory of Turkish company Unal Dried Nuts in Ankara, Turkey, on Nov. 8, 2021. As the newcomer to the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the leading Turkish company Unal Dried Nuts is aspiring to make the most of it. (Photo by Mustafa Kaya/Xinhua)

by Burak Akinci

As the newcomer to the China International Import Expo (CIIE), the leading Turkish company Unal Dried Nuts is aspiring to make the most of it.

Scheduled to run from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, the fourth CIIE is believed to enable the Turkish company to boost its sales and enlarge operations in a market growingly interested in healthy products.

"We are grateful to China for organizing this event, and it's a great opportunity for companies such as ours seeking to enhance beneficial partnerships in this important market," Omer Faruk Erbil, co-owner of Unal Dried Nuts, told Xinhua in an interview.

Speaking at the factory of the brand located in the distant suburb of Kahramankazan of Turkey's capital Ankara, Erbil voiced his belief that Chinese people pay great attention to what they eat.

"We have exported healthy food such as pistachios, almonds, dried figs and dried apricots to China for two years now and we would like to expand further in this market, and the CIIE offers an excellent medium in this regard," he said.

The company, founded in 1956 with a range of up to 200 products, has more than 50 shops in Ankara. It is ready to open "between 100 and 300 shops or kiosks in the shopping malls" across China in the future as long as the commercial infrastructure permits.

"We noticed that there is significant interest from the Chinese consumers in our products which can boost the immune system," Erbil said.

With China's commitment to further opening its market to foreign products, the CIIE has become a major platform for global businesses to explore and expand in China, he remarked.

Despite hurdles posed by COVID-19, the Chinese expo has garnered worldwide participation. This year's CIIE draws nearly 3,000 businesses from 127 countries and regions, higher than its last edition.

Hasan Doner, sales and procurement director of Unal, said since Chinese consumers don't favor too sugary products, his company is researching ways to provide alternatives satisfying their palate.

Doner noted that dried fruit and nuts have become an essential part of a healthy diet given their antioxidant, vitamin and mineral contents, as recommended by physicians.

"We receive very good feedback from Chinese consumers, especially regarding pistachios," he added.

Turkey's production capacity, and the quality and variety of the products are suitable for a stronger presence in the Chinese market, said Ismail Gulle, chairman of Turkish Exporters' Assembly.

"As the middle class grows in China, the demand for quality products also increases there. We must take advantage of these opportunities and increase our interests in this important market," he added.

"In 2020, as for the dried fruit industry, we exported 28.5 million U.S. dollars' (worth of products) to China with an increase of 21 percent year-on-year, and China ranked 10th in our export list," said Muhsin Cakici, president of the Istanbul Dried Fruits and Products Exporters' Association.