There are « Psychological Barriers » – Cyprus Newspaper

Within the framework of the European Union Expansion, the trade within the scope of the Green Line Regulation, which allows the sale of goods produced by the Turkish Cypriots to Southern Cyprus

It declined for the first time… Sales to the South within the scope of the Green Line Regulation declined for the first time after 2020. In 2023, 15 million 467 thousand euros were sold to the South; In 2024, this figure fell to 15 million 17 thousand 19.91 euros. Compared to the previous year, a 2 percent decrease in sales in 2024.

« Can’t be evaluated… » Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Turgay Deniz, Green line trade corresponds to only 0.12 percent of the total imports, saying that this channel can not be evaluated sufficiently, he said. Deniz said, “The products of Turkish Cypriots have difficulty finding a place on the market shelves on the Greek side. There are psychological barriers.” he said.

Cemre Cemali

After the unilateral European Union membership of Southern Cyprus, the Green Line Regulation, which is found to be the sale of goods produced by Turkish Cypriots to Southern Cyprus, cannot reach the desired level.

Last year, sales to Southern Cyprus under the Green Line Regulation decreased by 2 percent compared to the previous year. So much so that within the scope of trade in the South in 2023, 15 million 467 thousand 29,62 euros were sold; In 2024, this figure fell to 15 million 17 thousand 19.91 euros.

According to the information compiled by the Cypriot Chamber of Commerce data; Sales to the South via Green Line last year, 6 product group increased, 13 product groups decreased decreased.

Turgay Deniz, President of the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KTTO), evaluated Cyprus in Cyprus.

Underlining that this trade channel cannot be evaluated adequately, Deniz said that despite the important advantages in terms of freight costs and procurement time, green line trade corresponds to only 0.12 percent of total imports.

The sea underlines that another issue that needs to be emphasized is “psychological barriers ..

He said that the products produced by Turkish Cypriots still find a place on the shelves of the Greek side.

Sales figures from 2019 to 2024

Within the scope of the Green Line Regulation, sales to the South in 2019 were 5.3 million euros, while the travel and trade restrictions implemented with the Pandememis of the Coronavirus in 2019 were reflected in sales statistics.

So much so that in 2020, sales decreased by 14.17 percent compared to the previous year and fell to 4.6 million euros.

In the following year, the trade figures made from the TRNC to the South increased by 33.01 percent to 6.1 million euros.

The highest increase took place in 2022. Compared to 2021, more than 8.6 million euros were sold. Thus, sales increased by 141 percent in 2022 to 14.7 million euros.

Within the scope of the Green Line Regulation, sales to the South in 2023 increased by 5 percent compared to 2022. With the change of 700 thousand euros, the sales amount in 2023 was 15.4 million euros.

In 2024, a long time took place. Sales to the South declined for the first time after 2020. Compared to the previous year, sales decreased by 2 percent, while the reflection of this was 358 thousand euros.

Products with increasing sale

Sales to the South via Green Line last year, 6 product group increased, 13 product groups decreased decreased.

According to the data released by the Turkish Chamber of Commerce; Product groups, which increased in 2024 compared to 2023; ‘Waste Scrap Products’, ‘Fresh Fish’, ‘Fruit and Vegetable’, ‘processed food’ and ‘ceramic souvenir’ was.

Fruit and vegetable sales increased by 932.91 percent

Fruit and vegetable products sold from our country to Southern Cyprus increased by 932.91 percent last year and reached 848 thousand euros from 82 thousand euros. Thus, the product group with the highest increase rate in 2024 compared to 2023 was fruit and vegetables.

In the second place, the food processed with an increase of 518.63 percent, while the sales amount obtained from this product group last year compared to the previous year rose from 12 thousand euros to 79 thousand euros.

The sale of waste scrap products increased from 712 thousand euros to 1.4 million euros with an increase of 102.35 percent at the end of 2024 compared to 2023; Curtain, zebra curtain, interior roller product group with an increase of 99.65 percent of 133 thousand euros sales were realized.

Ceramic souvenir sales increased by 70.02 percent, 21 thousand euros sales were made.

Fresh fish sales increased by 2.38 percent in 2024 compared to the previous year, increased to 806 thousand euros.

Products decreasing sale

Within the scope of the Green Line Regulation, in 2024, product groups decreased in trade to the South compared to the previous year; ‘Prefabricated container,’ construction materials, ‘wooden furniture,’ plastic products, ‘mattress’,’ paper and cardboard products’, ‘potato’, ‘stainless steel industrial kitchen counter and tools’,’ textile products’, ‘Hotel slippers’,’ cushion ‘,’ pillow and puff ‘and’ basket ‘and’

Last year, a 54.79 percent decrease in sales compared to the previous year, the product group was advertising boards. So much so that the sale of 12 thousand euros to the South in 2023, 2024 this figure fell to 5 thousand euros.

Hotel slippers sales decreased by 47.02 percent and potato sales decreased by 39.28 percent; 39.08 percent of construction materials, 30.75 percent decrease in textile products occurred.

The sales amount of products from paper and cardboard decreased by 16.76 percent, while sales and wicker sales sales decreased by 13.58 percent, cushion, pillow and puff decreased by 12.48 percent.

Prefabricated container sales decreased by 12.42 percent last year compared to the previous year, while the total amount of sales remained at 3.3 million euros.

Last year’s mattress sales decreased by 4.17 percent; Stainless steel industrial kitchen counter and instruments sales 4.04 percent, wooden furniture products 1.60 percent, plastic products decreased by 1.08 percent.

Sea: This trade channel is not evaluated sufficiently

KTTO President Turgay Deniz, in 2024, a 2 percent decrease in sales to the south by evaluating, « In general, a decrease of 2 percent does not seem to be a major change, but the main point on the basis of the real potential of the real potential of the green line is still well below the real potential. » he said.

Deniz explaining this with an example, the Greek side of the Greek side in 2024, while the imports of the third countries at the level of approximately 12.4 billion euros, the total trade on the green line was only 15.1 million euros, he said.

The sea, green line trade, offers significant advantages in terms of freight costs and procurement time

Despite the fact that the green line trade corresponds only 0.12 percent of total imports, “Therefore, the issue that should be emphasized rather than a small -proportion of last year, this trade channel has not been sufficiently evaluated.” emphasized.

While the sales of some product groups decreased, Deniz mentioned the increases in others and reminded that each product is its own dynamics at this point.

« New criteria have not been reported on time »

Deniz, especially in prefabricated container products, as of October 1, 2023 new technical criteria and these criteria to producers in a timely informing that the notification of a significant decline by explaining that “2023, this product has started to decline from the last quarter of 2023. he said.

On the other hand, underlining that there was a significant increase in citrus products last year, Deniz said that the problems experienced in foreign markets last year turned into an opportunity that encourages the trade of these products through the green line.

« There should be product variety in processed foods »

Deniz drew attention to the obstacles on processed foods by saying that the green line stands out as an important alternative channel for citrus products:

“Although it is possible according to the regulation, the Greek Cypriot administration did not allow the trade of these products over the green line for many years. Until 2022, no processed food product could not be traded in this way. However, as a result of the intensive contacts carried out by our room with the European Commission, this blockage was removed for 6 pilot products in 2022. It will not be limited, not only ours, but also the European Commission officials will play a key role in the expansion of the green line trade volume.

« There are psychological barriers »

KTTO President Turgay Deniz, drawing attention to another point, « Another issue that we need to focus on is psychological barriers, » he explained this with the following words:

“The products produced by the Turkish Cypriots are still difficult to find a place on the market shelves on the Greek side. The brave steps to be taken in this regard will play a major role in strengthening the mutual trade, which is the most important factor in the development of relations between the two communities.”