The Norwegian Seafood Council, always keen to develop new markets, is currently turning its attention to Turkey and to the people who cook and sell fish in particular.
With a population of more than 74 million and a rising standard of living,
more Turkish people are turning to Western style food and fish in
particular. The Seafood Council certainly views it as a country that has
significant potential. Over the past five years exports of Norwegian
fish have increased by 64 per cent in value terms and by 46 per cent in
volume.
Norway recently sent some of its culinary experts
on a tour of Turkey where they have been meeting more than 100 of that
country's leading cooks.
Norway has fish in abundance and the aim is to create ambassadors for
its fish in Turkey. The discussions have centred on new products and
new food trends in restaurants, said marketing consultant Maria Kivijarvi Heggen.
The council delegation organised a series of cookery courses
and then turned their attention to the people who work behind the fish
counters at the Metro Group, one of Turkey's latest supermarket chains.
The
visit has also attracted a lot of attention from the Turkish media and a
TV crew from CNN accompanied the Norwegians for part of the tour.
The
souncil says that it sees Turkey as one of the new emerging counties,
adding that salmon and trout - both farmed fish - appear to be
particularly popular. Turkish journalists have also been invited to
Norway to look at the country's fishing industry which has resulted in
some positive coverage. Turkish shipyards also build many of Norway's
new trawlers.