Economy minister: 6-year ban lifted on exports of poultry products to Saudi Arabia

ANKARA (A.A) - Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan has said that six years of ban on exports of poultry products from Turkey to Saudi Arabia was lifted.  Thus, a market worth of 1.3 billion USD was opened, said Caglayan who released a statement on Monday. Caglayan said that thanks to Turkey's successful initiatives, Saudi Arabia lifted the ban on imports of poultry products for eight companies from Turkey. Saudi Arabia had banned the imports of poultry products due to bird flu. We were able to had Saudi Arabia lift the ban for eight companies, said Caglayan, adding that this decision would bring momentum to the sector. Caglayan noted that Saudi Arabia's share from world poultry products imports (27 billion USD) was five percent with 1.3 billion USD in 2010. Caglayan added that Turkey's poultry products sector's exports reached 352 million USD in January-November period of 2011. Turkey's biggest markets in poultry sector are Iraq (63 percent), Hong-Kong (6 percent), Iran (5 percent), Vietnam (5 percent) and Libya (4 percent), added Caglayan.