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Russia, the leading country in Western Mediterranean exports

1638 companies operating in Antalya, the leader of greenhouse agriculture, and in the Western Mediterranean Region, where Isparta and Burdur are located, contribute significantly to the country's economy with their exports. According to the data of the Western Mediterranean Exporters' Association (BAIB), exports from the region exceeded 886 million dollars in the first 4 months of this year, while the largest export was in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector. Exports to Russia reached 78 million 759 thousand 695 dollars with an increase of 59.83 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. Russia was followed by Germany with 60 million 643 thousand 45 dollars, China with 54 million 682 thousand 423 dollars, and Ukraine with 53 million 399 thousand 33 dollars. It is expected that exports will gain even more momentum with the start of the fruit season in the Russian and German markets, especially in summer. "Russia is our biggest customer" Ramazan Keskin, Vice President of the Western Mediterranean Exporters' Association (BAIB), told Anadolu Agency (AA) that they exported 1.5 million tons of fruit and vegetables from Turkey to Russia last year. Keskin emphasized that Russia is an important market for Türkiye, said; "Russia is our biggest customer in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector due to the fact that it is our neighbor from the Black Sea and it is the largest buyer of vegetables and fruits from Turkey. In this sense, Russia is very important to us."