The Chambers/Stock Exchanges of Mardin Province/Districts (Kiziltepe Commodity Exchange, Kiziltepe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mardin Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nusaybin Commodity Exchange, Nusaybin Chamber of Commerce and Industry) conducted a field study with Mardin Artuklu University Public Private and Mixed Sector Cooperation Coordination (MAUKOK). The 9th, held on October 25-29, 2023.The main purpose of this activity, which is carried out with the participating companies of the International Mardin Agricultural Equipment, Food and Livestock Fair (MAGROTEX’23), is to reveal how this Fair organized in Mardin is evaluated from the point of view of the participating companies. In connection with this, it is aimed to contribute to the further improvement of the Fair by sharing the results obtained with the relevant persons, institutions and the public. MAU IIBF Department of Economics Faculty Member, MAUKÖK Coordinator and TOBB/TEPAV and Mardin Province/Districts Chamber/Stock Exchange . This research, conducted under the direction of Mehmet Behzat Ekinci with the contributions of students of Economics and Business Departments, is a joint study of the Chambers / Commodity Exchanges of Mardin Province / Districts with Mardin Artuklu University (MAU). A total of 22 fair exhibitor companies, 8 of which are from Mardin and 14 from outside Mardin (Diyarbakýr, Gaziantep, Istanbul, Mersin, Tekirdað, Urfa), tried to find answers to the following 10 (ten) main questions in the research conducted by face-to-face survey method. 1) How many times are you attending this fair? 2) What is your purpose of participation in this fair? 3) What are the products you are exhibiting at this fair? 4) Have your expectations from this exhibition been met? 5) If you have participated in this fair before, what kind of benefits has it had? 6) Have you been able to provide any commercial connection with the country at this fair? 7) What kind of commercial connections did you provide with the country at this fair? 8) Have you been able to provide any commercial connection with abroad at this fair? 9) What kind of commercial connections did you provide with abroad at this fair? 10) Did you encounter any problems during this fair? The answers given within the scope of the survey were collated and subjected to general due diligence and evaluation. Some of the results and related proposals that emerged from the research are as follows:
The companies stated that they participated in the fair in order to “Gain information about the region and potential customers, Strengthen relations with customers in the region, Guide farmers, Promote brands, Contribute to more production of customers at less cost, Carry out marketing and sales, Inform about product quality, Find new buyers, Make new commercial breakthroughs, Promote new products”.
Some of the products exhibited at the fair are as follows: Smart agricultural systems, Garden equipment, Combine Harvesters, Wheat germ, Bulgur wheat, Digital agricultural infrastructure systems, Drone, Seedlings, Fertilizer, Solar panels, Generator, Pasta, Lentils, Corn seeds, Chickpeas, Automatic steering systems, Cotton seed, Cotton picking machine, Rice, Paste, Liquid fertilizer, Water pump, Irrigation materials and equipment, Agricultural medicines, Agricultural materials, Field analysis systems, Tractor, Tractor equipment, Sprinkler/ drip irrigation equipment.
Some of the benefits expressed by the companies that have participated in the fair before are as follows: “Dealer demands have increased, Our brand image has strengthened, Our customer portfolio has expanded, We have improved our dialogue with customers, Expanded our Sunday network, Our sales have increased, Contributed to our promotion, There have been feedback about our products, Demand for our products has increased, Provided the opportunity to expand abroad”.
A total of 17 of the companies (77%) stated that they were able to provide commercial connections with the country. Within this framework, they said, “Negotiations were held regarding dealerships, We had sales to regional provinces, We had the opportunity to work together with various companies, we made sales connections.”
7 of the companies (32%) stated that they are able to provide commercial connections with abroad. Within this framework, they said, “a commercial connection was established with Azerbaijan, negotiations were held for a commercial connection with Algeria, a commercial connection was established with Northern Iraq, negotiations were held for a commercial connection with Syria.”
Some of the companies expressed that they had also encountered some problems during the Fair and listed them as follows: “Lack of space, Irregularity, Airlessness, Lack of coordination, Lack of sinks, Lack of staff of the organization company, Parking problem, Cleaning problem”.
However, some companies have also added that there is a need for a fixed, closed and larger fairground instead of a tent. MAGROTEX'23 Fair, despite all its shortcomings, performs an important function due to the fact that it brings manufacturers together with existing and potential customers.
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