1. by Muammer Niksarlı President, National Cooperative Union of Turkey m.niksarli@turkey.coop

2.  Total number of co-ops: 69.665  Total number of members: 7.433.108  Number of co-op unions: 517  Total number of workers: 550.000  Total amount of paid capital: 25-30 Billion USD  Total volume of business: 50 Billion USD

3. 2 nd largest agric. credit distributor (19 %) Largest fertilizer, seed.. distributor, owned 21 companies 1,3 million farmer- members and 6000 staff 2014 volume of business exceeds 5 billion USD

4.  More than 515,000 members  338 primary co-ops  17 product-based unions  100 % market share in many agricultural products and export marketing

5.  1,6 million members  Own 5 sugar factories  42 % of sugar production  5 Billion USD volume of business  Create 250.000 jobs (100.000 seasonal)

7.  Turkey, the world’s largest hazelnut producer, earned $2.3 billion from hazelnut exports in 2014.  Turkey shipped more than 252,500 tons of hazelnuts to almost 110 countries in 2014.

8.  85-90 % of dried apricots consumed in the world are produced in Malatya, Turkey, known as the capital of apricot. Due to climatic conditions, the production in 2014 was 38 thousand tons less than earlier year and was 79 thousand tonnes.  Exported to 93 countries, total export revenue of dried apricot in 2014 was 348 million dollars.

9.  Total volume of export of sugar-based food items in 2014 : 70 Million USD  Number of countries exported: 55 (including China)

10. Export of some Agricultural Marketing Co-ops (000 Dollars) Marmarabirlik Olive Taris Olive Oil Taris Grapes Taris Figs 2012/1322.33319.90441.6785.799 2013/1420.4981.39238.6297.330 2014/1518.800*63139.8273.935 *11 months figure

11.  It is known that e-commerce in retail business is widely used like Alibaba.com and Amazon.com.  Using these examples, cooperatives around the world can establish a joint sales platform and reach consumers without intermediaries.

12.  All cooperatives in the world can establish a platform among themselves to sell and buy their products, share production techniques and develop joint commercial activities.

13.  Cooperatives in their own countries can set up selling stands for co-op products of other countries from around the world.  This initiative is important to help known co-op products worldwide

14.  Turkey is the leader in the production and export of hazelnut, figs, apricot and dried sultana raisin(grapes).  Cooperatives in the world can work together to eliminate middlemen taking greater role in marketing of these products.  Example: China and Turkey are now discussing how to cooperate in joint production planning, marketing and investment for processing.