New Delhi: Angered by Turkiye and Azerbaijan’s recent political positions concerning India’s counter-terror operations “Operation Sindoor” in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), Delhi’s trading community has vowed to sever all business relations with the two nations.
The Chamber of Trade and Industry (CTI) spearheaded a campaign at the Delhi Secretariat, witnessing the participation of numerous market associations, traders, and factory owners who collectively pledged to halt future trade. CTI Chairman Brijesh Goyal highlighted the unified oath taken by traders from major Delhi markets, including Kashmere Gate, Chandni Chowk, and Sadar Bazar.
Beyond trade, participants also resolved to abstain from traveling to Turkiye and Azerbaijan, a move already impacting the tourism sector, as reported by Manoj Khandelwal of a Delhi travel agency. CTI convenor Priyanka Saxena noted the significant number of Indian tourists visiting these countries annually, contributing substantially to their economies.
Chairman Goyal further stated that Delhi traders have begun cancelling orders, potentially causing a substantial economic impact on Turkiye, given the USD 12.5 billion bilateral trade in 2024.
Meanwhile, traders at the wholesale APMC (Agriculture Produce Market Committee) market in Vashi have decided to boycott Turkish apples and other fruits in light of the support extended by Turkey to Pakistan during the recent India-Pakistan conflict. Retailers too are avoiding apples imported from Turkey while some traders are reportedly selling their existing stock claiming the apples are imported from South Africa.
APMC market receives large quantities of Turkish apples annually, which are famed for their quality and sweetness and priced at around ₹140 per kilogram, compared to ₹90-120 per kilo for apples from other regions. The apples start arriving in October and continue till the middle of the year, said former APMC director (fruit) Sanjay Pansare.
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