According to the Turkey's Steel Exporters' Association, Turkish Ministry of Economy representatives and economy minister Mr Zafer Caglayan held a meeting on October 19th 2012 with domestic companies participating in the ministry's project aimed at increasing Turkey's international competitiveness.

The Turkish Ministry of Economy is supporting companies from different sectors in order to achieve Turkey's aim of $500 billion in overall export value by 2023.

The CIB said that it has completed commercial visits to nine countries and 12 cities in order to increase steel exports to the markets outlined in the support project.

Mr Namik Ekinci president of CIB said that the performance of the project reflects the cooperation of the participant institutions in determining exact requirements and formulating a strong strategy in line with needs.

Mr Ekinci stated that "We listened to visitors' comments after every commercial visit completed and considered criticisms for the purpose of realizing a better visit next time. Almost 4,000 bilateral business meetings with 300 steel importers in nine countries were held during the visits and we hosted two purchasing commitee meetings in Turkey in order to give exposure to our steel production mills and to ensure familiarization between the two sides."

The CIB president said that 47 steel exporting companies are responsible for 47% of the total steel exports of the country and that Turkey's total steel exports to the visited countries saw 75% increase in the period after commercial visits.