Miller Magazine Issue 107 / November 2018

67 MILLER / NOVEMBER 2018 INTERVIEW stemming from Turkey’s domestic market will have negative effect for exports? I think we will experience these effects but difficulties will not deepen. Flour industrialists have been specialized significantly in production and exports. Relevant minist- ries and finance sector are well aware of developments. Export figures may be floating for a certain period but I think our exporters will improve its record with higher value added products. What measures can Turkey take in order to prevent scarcity for wheat and flour? There are two critical aspects for this issue: 1-Size of agricultural lands are at an average level of 59 acres and it is not efficient to do agriculture in small farm lands, 2-The issue of “how to train our people living in villa- ges to become professional farmers”. When we achieve to unite agricultural lands and en- gage our farmers in this sector, we will have no problem about wheat production in terms of volume and quality. Problems about amount of grains or fluctuations in mar- ket will also be resolved. We will become a country that is net grains exporter. Moreover, Turkey should base its growth and development projections on agriculture first, not technology. Because there is a long way to go in the area of technology but we have immediate opportunities to seize in order to realize a great potential in the field of agriculture. At the end of September, you held the Forum of Grain Processors in Odessa, a significant event for the industry. You talked about the future of grains and flour markets and possible partnerships. How can Turkish in- dustrialists take advantage of the Ukrainian market? This international forum gave us the opportunity to evaluate a number of global developments with sha- reholders from Black Sea countries. Particularly, innovati- ve developments and markets about flour industry drew our attention. Also, agricultural lands of 1100 acres of Ukraine were sparkling. We are convinced that they are specialized in agriculture as we are in flour manufactu- ring and trading. We agreed with especially Ukrainian and Kazakh shareholders to further negotiate on develo- ping partnerships. I am also curious about your aspiration for football. You are a board member of Gazisehir Gaziantep fo- otball Club. You are watching matches with a great enthusiasm. You look like a die-hard fan? Do you re- gularly exercise? Gaziantep is a significant and creative Turkish city. It is the 8th oldest city of the world. Our city has enormous potentials in industry, exports, tourism and gastronomy but the public opinion is that it should also be suppor- ted with cultural, musical and sportive activities. The- refore, like many other metropolitan cities, Gaziantep should also have a football club to compete in top-flight Turkish Super League. This team would give the city a different atmosphere and enthusiasm. It would boost its spirits. Gazisehir football club lost at the final match last year but I hope we will achieve our goal to be among Super League clubs next year thanks to efforts of our chairman Adil Konukoglu, board members, the coach and his team. Of course, I exercise regularly. Because sport is a philo- sophy of life, source of energy, method of spiritual com- fort for me. I think there should be no excuses for not doing exercises. I exercise 1,5 -2 hours every evening before dinner. It enables me to have a better meal and sleep. Anything you want to add? Turkey is a big country with its population and land. It is among the 20 biggest economies and has a strategic importance. I hope that our country will be more deve- loped and powerful in all areas with the right steps. My dream is to witness a “developed Turkish nation” among 36 developed nations. Sincere regards for all readers of the Miller Magazine.