New Delhi: In a major move reflecting the growing national sentiments, the Indian traders on Friday announced a complete boycott of Türkiye and Azerbaijan, citing their support for Pakistan during the recent military conflict with India.
Earlier today, business leaders from over 24 Indian states gathered in Delhi to take a final call on the issue. “A collective decision has been taken in the conference of trade leaders today to end all trade with Turkey and Azerbaijan… The reason is clear. Turkey and Azerbaijan openly supported Pakistan against India… Any import and export will not happen with Turkey and Azerbaijan with immediate effect,” BJP MP and Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) Secretary General Praveen Khandelwal told the media following the meeting.
To recall, Türkiye and Azerbaijan openly supported Pakistan and sent drones, weapons, and trained personnel to be used against India. This led to a nationwide movement in India calling for a boycott of Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
Major Steps Taken to Boycott Türkiye
- EaseMyTrip and Ixigo have issued advisories urging people to avoid traveling to Türkiye and Azerbaijan. The companies have cited political tensions and security concerns.
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) has suspended its academic agreement with Türkiye’s Inonu University, citing national security concerns. Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has also ended its academic ties.
- Traders in Pune have decided to stop importing apples from Türkiye. Instead, they are sourcing apples from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Iran, and other regions.
- The Udaipur Marble Processors Association has urged the government to ban marble imports from Türkiye.
- Traders in Kanpur have canceled 80% of their orders, while Jaipur-based businesses have halted orders worth crores of rupees.
- Adani Airport Holdings has terminated its partnership with the Turkish firm Celebi, which provided ground handling services at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport and Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport.
- Leading e-commerce platforms like Myntra and Reliance-owned Ajio have stopped selling products made in Türkiye.
Export Market Loss
It is important to note that India is a major market for Turkey’s marble and apples. Due to the boycott, Turkey will have to find alternative markets for its products, which may not be able to purchase in the same volumes or offer competitive prices.
According to the OEC, India imported approximately $92.8 million worth of apples from Turkey in 2023. Traders in Pune have decided to stop buying apples from Turkey. Instead, they are now sourcing apples from Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Iran, and other regions.
Pushan Dutt, Professor of Economics and Political Science at INSEAD Business School, said, “Only 0.64 percent of Turkey’s exports go to India, and 3 percent of its imports come from India. Similarly, only 0.5% of Turkey’s tourists come from India. Therefore, a boycott in terms of trade and tourism will not have a significant impact on Turkey’s economy.”