Turkey to Host Olive Oil Producers for OIC Meeting

After rejoining the International Olive Council (OIC) only a year ago, Turkey will host the 17th extraordinary session of the OIC next week.

The meeting will take place in Istanbul from June 27 to July 1 with participation from 17 countries.
In 2010, Turkey has rejoined the OIC, the umbrella organization of olive and olive oil producers worldwide, 12 years after a government decision to terminate its 35-year membership.

Mustafa Tan, head of Turkey’s National Olive and Olive Oil Council, said Friday that Turkey could not benefit from experiences of OIC during this 12-year hiatus.

Turkish olive production is on the rise but exports are on the decline, Tan said, however, new markets and start-up companies have led to an increase in branded exports.
“As we have raised the bar for higher quality, we have also started to work together with OIC, which has significant experience in this field,” Tan said. “We will take advantage of their experiences from training of producers to on-site training at plants.”

Tan added that Turkey would become a giant olive and olive oil producer country, and take its place among actors who set standards of olive and olive oil in the world.

SOURCE: CUMHURIYET
25 June 2011