ANALYSING THE TRADE BETWEEN TURKEY AND THE AEGEAN ISLANDS: THE HIDDEN OPPORTUNITIES

Aegean Islands and Turkey have strict historical and geographical ties. These ties make social, cultural and commercial interaction inevitable. The trade between Aegean Islands and Turkey has great potential. Despite high demands from the Aegean Islands, according to the relevant statistics no sufficient trade interaction has been established. The aim of this paper is to analyze the trade potential and reveal the barriers of trade between Aegean Islands and Turkey. To reach this aim, trade statistics have been compiled from various sources and interviews have been carried out with the relevant professionals. The findings supported by the related literature indicate that as trade barriers range from infrastructural and procedural process at port and port-centric areas, and underdevelopment of small-sized ports, to lack of a collaborative culture among the various service providers involved in the trade and transportation interactions. The solutions proposed for the related problems are listed in the recommendation section of this study. Aegean Islands and Turkey have strict historical and geographical ties. These ties make social, cultural and commercial interaction inevitable. The trade between Aegean Islands and Turkey has great potential. Despite high demands from the Aegean Islands, according to the relevant statistics no sufficient trade interaction has been established. The aim of this paper is to analyze the trade potential and reveal the barriers of trade between Aegean Islands and Turkey. To reach this aim, trade statistics have been compiled from various sources and interviews have been carried out with the relevant professionals. The findings supported by the related literature indicate that as trade barriers range from infrastructural and procedural process at port and port-centric areas, and underdevelopment of small-sized ports, to lack of a collaborative culture among the various service providers involved in the trade and transportation interactions. The solutions proposed for the related problems are listed in the recommendation section of this study