Minister of Treasury and Finance Berat Albayrak was a guest at the Laleli Meetings. The program, held at the Crown Plaza Hotel on Thursday, March 7th, received significant attention from Laleli traders and sectoral non-governmental organizations.
During the Laleli Meetings program, LASİAD President Gıyasettin EYYÜPKOCA expressed gratitude to Minister ALBAYRAK for his presence in Laleli. Subsequently, TİM (Turkish Exporters Assembly) President İsmail GÜLLE took the stage to emphasize the importance of exports in the country’s economy and Laleli’s export potential. Addressing the Laleli traders at the Laleli Meetings, Minister ALBAYRAK highlighted the economic significance and historical value of Laleli, stating, “We are ready to do whatever it takes to solve your problems.” After the speeches, LASİAD President Gıyasettin EYYÜPKOCA presented Minister Albayrak with a calligraphy artwork featuring an Ottoman-style “besmele” (Islamic phrase).
Following the program, Minister Berat Albayrak visited Laleli traders along with Gıyasettin Eyyüpkoca, the President of the Laleli Industrialists and Businessmen Association, TİM President İsmail Gülle, and the LASİAD Management. During the visit, Minister Albayrak announced that a necessary regulatory change had been made regarding the inclusion of goods accompanying passengers, particularly the “micro-export” concept, and that a special “export depot” would be established in Laleli for the first time in Turkey. He conveyed the news that everything sold by traders to foreign customers in Laleli would fall under the scope of exports.
With the customs regulation amendment, Laleli exports, previously invoiced through cargo companies, can now be directly exported under the seller’s name. This change will formalize all types of exports, including passenger-associated exports and suitcase trade. As a result, Laleli traders will transition to an exporter status, benefiting from various advantages to increase their exports. The newly implemented “export depot” method for micro-exporters will lead to a significant increase in the number of TİM members, as individuals can now present themselves as official exporters.
After visiting Laleli traders, Hazine ve Maliye Bakanı Berat Albayrak shared on his Twitter account: “Today, as the guest of Laleli Industrialists and Businessmen Association (LASİAD), we came together with Laleli traders. We explained the new regulations that will turn Laleli traders into ‘exporters.’ We also visited Laleli traders in their shops, explaining the new practices and having conversations.
