THE CYPRUS Turkish Chamber of Industry yesterday urged Greek Cypriot consumers to buy their products.
President of the Chamber, Salih Tunar, said “the psychological barriers between the Greek and Turkish Cypriot communities regarding the consumption of products of either community have to be removed. Turkish Cypriot products should be available on the Greek Cypriot market.”
The Chamber is participating at the 30th Cyprus International Fair for the first time.
Products on display can only be sold within the Republic as part of the Green Line regulations.
Products being exhibited and available for purchase include furniture, building materials, textiles, paper products, cosmetics, food and drink and cleaning products.
Tunar said that, “by participating in this event, the Chamber aims to bring together business people from the two communities and hence create an environment for a solution acceptable to both communities, to promote our products in a free, competitive environment and to increase trust between the two communities.”
He added, “the Green Line regulations that have been in effect since August 26 last year, neither achieved its aims in terms of improving the economy in Northern Cyprus, nor the desired co-operation between Turkish and Greek Cypriot business people. First of all, we need to amend the Green Line regulations in order to eliminate all restrictions and to format it in such a way that it allows free trade between the two communities as well as with Europe and the rest of the world. Like all EU citizens, Turkish Cypriots must have the right to do business without inhibitions. This is a basic EU principle regarding democracy and human rights.”
Since the Green Line regulations came into effect, the Chamber stated that the regulations, by themselves, were not be enough to improve the economy in the north. The Chamber finds it essential that the EU’s free trade and financial aid regulations are put into effect.
“We have said that the Customs Union planned between Turkey and south Cyprus should cover the whole of Cyprus,” Tunar said.
“It is also a good development that our manufacturers’ vehicles are for the first time allowed to cross to the south during the Fair and that advertisements from the north are published in the Greek Cypriot press. I invite Greek Cypriots to visit our stands during the fair to view our products and for them to get to know us better. It is in our hands to benefit from this opportunity that is granted to us.”
According to the Chamber, there is $130,000 worth of trade across the Green Line every month.
