SOYHAN ALPASLAN Teknopark Istanbul companies made their mark on tens of inventions as part of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to the R&D studies executed in pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and e-health technologies, these companies run by scientists have been the first implementers of numerous innovations. With these innovations, Turkish companies aim to contribute to the struggle against the pandemic in the international arena. Following are the inventions standing out in the fight against Covid-19 within the ecosystem of Teknopark Istanbul, where academic spin-off and business incubators prevail… PROBIOTIC DISINFECTANT CREME SFA R&D developed Turkey’s first probiotic disinfectant creme. The liposomal vitamin C and liposomal turmeric are among the company’s critical products. These groundbreaking products for Turkey have been proven to have effects in the treatment of Covid-19. SFA R&D signed a significant contract with a major German pharmaceutical company on the export of liposomal vitamin C. SFA R&D is more competitive than Europe in terms of high quality and costs. BIOMATERIAL PROTECTIVE MASK BacPolyZyme (BPZ) BioEngineering aims to enhance the protective nature of the fabric masks by preventing the passage of viral particles through the indigenous biomaterial it manufactured. This biodegradable, biocompatible, nanosize material is entirely natural, the same as the human skin. Both viral and microbial contaminants in the air can be filtered as soon as the biomaterial is integrated into the mask’s parts, contacting the face. BORON BASED LONG-LASTING DISINFECTANT Plustechno Consultancy & Construction Chemicals developed a biocide by using boron components. This company has been manufacturing long-lasting disinfectants and unique sterilization solutions for large areas used extendedly, such as hospitals and industrial facilities. Biocide had been tested on bacterias and yeast, and positive outcomes were received compared to competitor chemicals. Biocide has many areas of usage. INTERNATIONAL DEMAND FOR THE RESUSCITATOR SRDR Robotics developed the first indigenous auto resuscitator to oxygenate the Covid-19 patients. A resuscitator is a device using positive pressure to inflate the lungs of the non-breathing patients. Resuscitators are employed for continuous oxygenation and assisted ventilation. All age groups, including infants, can easily use the device. There is international demand for this lightweight, compact, portable, cost-efficient resuscitator compatible with all lung types. ENCRYPTED AND FREE OF CHARGE VIDEO CONFERENCING Nettsi Informatics Technology developed and availed the indigenous video conferencing system Nettsi to the service of over 300 hospitals, universities, and foundations, free of charge. The system providing encrypted communication will be free of charge until the end of 2020. Supporting simultaneous utilization of 5 thousand users, Nettsi is an open-source software developed under the cooperation of Nettsi and Intelprobe. Enabling instantaneous communication via web browsers, IoS, and Android mobile applications, Nettsi features screen sharing, messaging, and quality settings. NASAL EXPIRATORY KIT Strategic Innovative Initiatives (SYG) Engineering is waiting for Islamic Development Bank’s support for the production of the nasal device and expiratory kit and the preventive medicine that prevents the virus from cleaving into the respiratory tract. This kit will function as a part of the ventilators oxygenating the patients and will be affordable, accessible, and user-friendly. The equipment shall remove the need for kit intensive care or intubation implementations, and protect the healthcare providers by removing the expired air of the patient from the environment. REMOVES THE VIRUS IN THE AIR Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions developed the device called Filtr Science that detects and removes all types of airborne extraneous and harmful organisms, including the coronavirus. The device can detect the levels of any airborne chemical or biological loads and radioactive particles and eliminate them. The know-how of Filtr Science is being exported to the USA. Filtr Science rapidly and safely purifies negative pressure isolation rooms during the coronavirus pandemic. OZONE CHALLENGING THE VIRUS Mikrosay Software&Electronics has been challenging the Covid-19 with its ozone systems. The ozone produced by the exported and patented system Triovita purifies the air and water. Ozone eliminates bacterias such as e.coli, tuberculosis, and coliform, any harmful and invisible molecules such as odors, mold or fungus, and viruses and prevents the occurrence and spread of epidemics. EXPORTING MASK MACHINES TO EUROPE Dolka Machinery manufactures mask production machines and exports them to Europe. The company can install mask production machines in all countries of the continent. The new version mask production machine is popular in Europe for its technological features and price.The device employs an ultrasonic welding system, and its manufacturing unit is controlled by 17 different servo motors for precise adjustment. When performing,the touch screen enables the alignment of the pattern, nose wire, and ear loops of the masks. MONITORING AVAILABLE ANYWHERE WITH TELEMETRY The telemetry system developed by LiveWell Wearable Health operates by using the GSM network. The system can detect the Covid-19 virus’s negative effects on cardiovascular activities and the arrhythmias caused by drugs. The portable ECG device Cardiom, is another device developed by the company, is capable of performing integrated with the Long-Term Rhythm Control System. Cardiom is a simple, sustainable, and quite economic system. Doctors monitor the patient anytime from their computers through the Cardiom. WORLD’S FIRST VIRTUAL PHYSICS LABORATORY GDS Engineering R&D launched the world’s first Virtual Physics Laboratory (VPL) supported by the indigenous Ship Engine Room Simulator (SERS). One of the top 20 ideas among 172 initiatives applying to Turkey’s Covid-19 Joint Mind Platform, the VPL, enables the execution of Physics I and II lab experiments suspended by the pandemic via a software platform. SFL shall be utilized in all engineering faculties in the world. COVID-19 DRUG AVAILABLE BY THE END OF 2020 Three smart drug candidates developed by RS Research aim to reach the lungs directly for Covid-19 treatment. Planning to reduce the side effects emerging as part of the Covid-19 treatment with the smart drugs it developed against cancer, Turkey’s start-up RS Research plan launched testing of the drug candidates on animals. The company aims to avail the drug to the patients before the end of 2020. THE PEERLESS E-HEALTH PLATFORMHEADS TOWARDS USA Invenoa Software’s unique e-health application Medibook enables extensive management of health. Counting the days for its export to the USA, Medibook can be used simultaneously by ten thousands of people via mobile devices. Medibook enables online examination, symptom analysis, treatment follow-up, medical device sales, management of all documents, and access to all doctors. This application archives all medical records and provides any service, including lab services to the patients at their homes. Medibook lists and demonstrates the reports over a single graph. DETECTION THROUGH THE BREATH New Senses Health Sciences Technologies developed the world’s first artificial intelligence Covid-19 diagnosis kit CovidNose. The biosensor detecting the imbalance of the blood gas molecules in the smell of the patient’s breath has been experimented successfully on 960 patients. CovidNose is also capable of detecting mutant coronaviruses and other diseases, for that matter. The company is getting ready to launch the Mobile Covid-19 Diagnosis Kit to the market in November. DETECTS FALSIFIED DRUGS IN ONLY 10 SECONDS PortMera developed a smart system capable of real-time and non-invasive analyses of the drugs over the production line or on-site. System can detect the compatibility of over 500 pharmaceutical products’ to standards in merely 10 seconds. This system, named as Medi-Eval can also be employed for real-time measurements in industrial production. No chemical or physical processes or technical staff is required.

08 Eylül 2020 Salı

Upon the launch of all the logistics centers, the logistics industry will be embracing an additional load carrying capacity of nearly 35.6 million tons per year. ŞEREF KILIÇLI Turkey has been setting its sights on a breakthrough in logistics to build an infrastructure supporting an export of $1 trillion in the long term. To this end, the logistics centers assumed a critical role in the export-focused logistics infrastructure. Among all transport modes, railroads took primacy within the scope of the planned investments in transport. INTEGRATION TO THE GLOBAL SYSTEM Situated as a prominent intersection on the route between the global centers of economy and raw materials resources, Turkey has been realizing significant investments in transport and logistics for gaining economic, political, and cultural advantages from the potential offered by its geographical position. In additionto the domestic infrastructural investments accomplished, Turkish transporters have been active in a vast geography consisting of Kazakhstan and Mongolia in the East, Portugal, and Morocco in the West, Sudan, Oman and Yemen in the South and Norway, Sweden and Finland in the north for contributing to our foreign trade. COMBINED TRANSPORT Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure launched the project on logistics centers for developing the model of combined transport and providing all the services required by the logistics industry. Within the scope of this project, the establishment of the following 25 logistics centers has been planned: Halkalı (Istanbul), Yeşilbayır (Istanbul), (Çerkezköy) Tekirdağ, Köseköy (İzmit), Filyos (Zonguldak), Bozüyük (Bilecik), Hasanbey (Eskişehir), Gökköy (Balıkesir), Çandarlı (İzmir), Kemalpaşa (İzmir), Uşak, Kaklık (Denizli), Gelemen (Samsun), Türkoğlu (Kahramanmaraş), Palandöken (Erzurum), Yenice (Mersin), Kayacık (Konya), Kars, Boğazköprü (Kayseri), Karaman, İyidere (Rize), Tatvan (Bitlis), Sivas, Mardin, and Habur. 9 OPERATIONAL LOGISTICS CENTERS The following nine logistics centers have been put into service: Uşak, Gelemen (Samsun), Kaklık (Denizli), Köseköy (İzmit), Hasanbey (Eskişehir), Gökköy (Balıkesir), Türkoğlu (Kahramanmaraş), Palandöken (Erzurum), and Halkalı (Istanbul). The construction of the logistics centers in Mersin/Yenice and Konya/Kayacık has been completed, and the centers have been rendered available for launch. The development of the logistics centers in Kars and İzmir/Kemalpaşa is in progress. As part of the Kars logistics center’s constructional works, 80 percent of progress has been achieved. General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments has been conducting the construction works of the logistics center in İzmir/Kemalpaşa. PRIVATE SECTOR’S SHARE 12.7% Turkey launched the ‘deregulation model’ in rail freight cargo as of 2017 for the effective utilization of the private sector operations. Freight transported by the government-owned Turkish State Railways reached 29.3 million tons in 2019 while the cargo carried by other railway operations reached 4.2 million tons. In 2019, in total, 33.5 million tons were transported through the railroads. Rail freight cargo operations of the private sector reached 2.7 million tons in 2018 and increased to 4.2 million tons in 2019. The private sector’s share in overall rail freight transport increased to 12.7% from 9.5%, and it is expected to increase in the future. 1.7 MILLION LOAD TRANSPORTED Last year, nearly 1.7 million tons of load was transported from the nine logistics centers launched to service. When all the logistics centers become operational, Turkey’s logistics industry will be gaining an additional load transport capacity of approximately 35.6 million tons every year. Furthermore, 12.8 million square meters of open space, storage area, container area, and handling area will be achieved. NEW RAILROAD LINES Railroads play a critical role in the investments in the logistics center. Therefore, railroads are prioritized in the planned investments within the scope of Turkey’s Logistics Master Plan. In respect to the new ventures on railroads, railway lines between Gaziantep-Mersin, Eskişehir-Antalya, and Bursa-Yenişehir-Osmaneli are being built in addition to the high-speed trains running between Ankara-Sivas and Ankara-İzmir. To this end, Halkalı-Kapıkule and Konya-Karaman-Yenice railway lines will be constructed, and the third bridge on over the Bosphorus as known as the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge will also be built on the Gebze-Istanbul Airport-Halkalı course. Operations on capacity enhancement are being conducted in the Kars Interchange Terminal at the Air Cargo Operation Center, Filyos Cargo Port, located at the Black Sea’s exit, and the ports over Eastern Mediterranean. As part of the projects on the reinforcement of the logistics infrastructure, operations on electrification, signalization, capacity enhancement and constructionof junction lines for organized industrial sites, ports and critical facilities are being conducted. GROUNDWORK FOR BUILDING LOGISTICS CENTERS ABROAD In addition to establishing 25 logistics centers in Turkey, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure has been working on a project for building a logistics center abroad. A strategy for developing depot and fulfillment centers in countries that will boost logistics operations’ efficiency has been identified. To this end, the establishment and execution of procedures in co-investment models on depot and fulfillment centers in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Russia are aimed. For further success in the transport of Turkish products to global markets. The e-commerce infrastructure of Turkey’s national postal services General Directorate of Post and Telegraph Organization (PTT), will be utilized in the logistics operations to be executed depot and fulfillment centers that will be established in the countries mentioned above.

08 Eylül 2020 Salı

ADEM ORHUN While protectionist policies and conflicts on interest are becoming more influential in international trade, the importance of bilateral trade agreements is increasing in parallel. Turkey also has been taking steps towards expanding its share in global business by signing free trade agreements (FTAs) as an economic and commercial instrument. Turkey’s free trade agreements with third countries were laid by the country’s export-oriented growth strategy that dates back to 1980. Within the scope of this strategy, ‘finding new markets’ and ‘diversification of export products’ emerged as the most critical targets. However, Turkey started to leave this track since the 1990s. SMOOTHER BUSINESS OPERATIONS Turkey strived to increase its exports to the European Union through domestic incentives until the establishment of the Customs Union. The country is presently benefiting from the free trade agreements to remove the tariff and non-tariff barriers (quotas, ban on technology transfer) to trade. In this way, the rules on exports and imports, quotas, and remission of duties become simpler and smoother for the signatory parties. Balances are built through the parties’ mutual concessions, and these balances indicate smoother business operations and more business opportunities for the traders of both countries. 36 AGREEMENTS SIGNED A total of 36 FTAs were signed since the first FTA signed with EFTA countries in 1992. Although, eleven of these FTAs were annulled due to the European Union membership of the signatory parties. Following the effectiveness of the FTA of 2017 signed with Singapore, Turkey focused on the initiatives to eliminate the barriers complicating the bilateral trade and proceeded the negotiations on FTAs with many countries in a vast geography extending from the Far East to the USA. Progress has been achieved particularly on the texts that will build the agreement with Ukraine and a new initiative has been launched in North Africa. To this end, a step has been taken to initiate the negotiations on an FTA with Morocco. Moreover, talks with the United Kingdom on the protection of market entry advantages in the short-term and signing of an extensive FTA in the medium-long run are ongoing. COMMON RULES The FTAs signed so far simplify the business processes and enable the establishment of common rules in areas such as origin rules, investments, and intellectual property rights. While facilitating the trade flows, these agreements created economies of scale that reduced costs and increased resource productivity. As they stipulate the establishment of an outward-oriented competitive economic infrastructure, the agreements increased the international competitiveness. POLITICAL RAPPROCHEMENT Another advantage of the FTAs is the stabilization in the political relations of the parties achieved through these agreements. Partnership Councils and Partnership Committees built through the FTAs gather the top-level political and bureaucratic representatives. In this way, an environment for the review of new cooperation opportunities is enabled. Furthermore, the countries’ awareness of each other’s economic and business potentials increase, and the contacts between the business people become smoother. OPINION REQUESTED FOR THE NEGOTIATION WITH UKRAINE Negotiations on the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Turkey and Ukraine containing provisions on trade in services, facilitating the investments and e-commerce are in progress. To this end, the Ministry of Trade prepared draft agreements to be discussed during the FTA negotiations. The drafts were sent to chambers of commerce for their opinion. Related shareholders and foreign trade authorities’ comments on the draft texts titled ‘Chapter on Investment Facilitation’ and ‘Free Movement of Real Persons’ and the provisions and points they find useful were requested. FTA WITH MONTENEGRO AMENDED The FTA between Turkey and Montenegro was amended last year. This FTA became effective in 2010. Ruhsar Pekcan, Minister of Trade and Dragica Sekulic, Montenegro’s Minister of Trade, signed a protocol extending the FTA at the meeting held in Ankara on July 17, 2019. NEW OPPORTUNITIES WITH KOSOVO The provisions on the effectiveness of the FTA signed by Turkey and Kosovo was published on the Official Gazette dated September 1, 2019. This development to boost the trade volume is closely followed by the business realms of both countries. Ilir Dugolli Ambassador of the Republic of Kosovo to Turkey and Berat Rukiqi President of Kosovo’s Chamber of Commerce attended the meeting in Ankara, hosted by Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey. Presidents chambers of commerce the cities and towns with a population of Balkan immigrants were quite interested in the meeting titled, ‘The Benefits of the FTA between Turkey and Kosovo.’ FTAS IN EFFECT Kosovo Albania Bosnia Herzegovina EFTA Faroe Islands Morocco Palestine South Korea Georgia Israel Montenegro North Macedonia Malaysia Egypt Moldova Mauritius Serbia Singapore Chile Tunisia Syria (suspended in 2011) Jordan (terminated in 2018) COUNTRIES IN THE NEGOTIATION PROCESS Official negotiations on the signing of FTAs with 16 countries/ groups of countries are in progress: Ukraine Peru Colombia Japan Thailand Indonesia Somalia Ecuador Mexico Pakistan Djibouti Republic of the Congo Republic of Cameroon Chad Gulf Cooperation Council MERCOSUR (Common Market of South American countries) COUNTRIES TURKEY ATTEMPTED TO INITIATE NEGOTIATIONS USA Canada India Vietnam Central America Countries Africa Caribbean Pacific Countries Libya Seychelles Algeria Republic of South Africa For details on FTA:www.trade.gov.tr/free-trade-agreements

08 Eylül 2020 Salı

German companies preferred investing in the services; Dutch companies were interested in investing in the retail sector while the US companies opted for the information technologies. Global investors focused on three sectors in Istanbul, one of the few metropoles in the world. According to the ‘2019 Foreign Investment and Capital Indicators Report in Istanbul’ prepared by the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, the sectors attracting the foreign investors were listed as services, retail, and information technologies (IT). 12 THOUSAND AND 644 INVESTORS According to the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce trade registries, companies with a total capital of TRY3 billion 366 million 653 thousand and 810 were established in 2019 by 12 thousand and 644 foreign investors. In concern with the companies established with foreign capital, the number of foreign investors decreased by 7.68% in Istanbul in 2019 compared to 2018. This rate was 107.30% in 2018 and 20.61% in 2017. 66 PERCENT OF THE CAPITAL Regarding the newly founded companies, services, retail, and IT were listed as the sectors drawing the highest number of foreign investors. Three thousand and 208 investors invested in the services sector with a capital of TRY1 billion 89 billion 600 thousand and 50. Following the services sector, 3 thousand and 115 investors were included in the retail industry and invested TRY852 million 721 thousand and 54. Finally, the IT sector drew a capital of TRY289 million 179 thousand and 855 of 615 investors. During this period, the foreign investors preferred the services, retail, and IT sectors the most in terms of the amount of capital. 54.87% of the foreign investors in Istanbul and 66.28% of the subscribed capital focused on three main sectors. IT MOST PROMINENT Among the total foreign investors, the services attracted the highest number of foreign investors with 25.37% while the retail had 24.64%, IT has 4.86%, and textiles had a 10.32 % market share. In terms of foreign capital value, 32.36 % of total foreign capital consisted of services, 25.33 % is retail, and 8.59 % is the IT sector. Considering the total capital committed by the foreign investors registered last year with the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, the average capital per foreign investor is TRY266 thousand 265. In the average amount of capital per foreign investor, the IT sector stands out with TRY470 thousand. Energy with TRY425 thousand and services with TRY339 thousand were the sectors with the highest value per member in foreign investors. TOP 5 COUNTRIES PREFERRING ISTANBUL The top five countries with the highest amount of capital invested in Istanbul in 2019 were Syria, the Netherlands, Iran, Germany, and Jordan. The foreign capital value committed by the 3 thousand and 154 Syrian investors to establish business was TRY463 million. The Syrians mostly preferred investing in the retail sector in the megacity. With 93 investors and a capital of TRY346 million, the Netherlands ranked second in the list. Dutch companies focused on retail as well. Iran ranked third with 1,846 investors and TRY211 million investment. Iranian companies opted for the services sector for their investments. GERMANY FOCUSED ON SERVICES AND USA ENGAGED IN THE IT German investors remained at the top of the list in the services sector, with 96 investors and TRY107.9 million capital. Saudi Arabia followed Germany with 57 investors and a capital of TRY107 million. For the retail industry, the Netherlands emerges as the country with the highest investment amount with 14 investors and TRY242.4 million capital. Syria follows the Netherlands with 722 investors and TRY112.3 million capital, Libya, with 159 investors and TRY59 million capital. In the IT sector, 36 investors from the USA have gained weight in the industry with an investment of TRY81.1 million.

07 Eylül 2020 Pazartesi

Istanbul is also a leader in e-commerce in terms of the total volume of business. 36 percent of the online shopping that reached a total of TRY136 billion in 2019 was realized in Istanbul. This rate indicates that the consumers in Istanbul spent TRY48 billion and 960 million. ŞEREF KILIÇLI Turkey has been implementing a brand new system for collecting and centralizing e-commerce data and identifying primary policies on the sector through a shared database. Data are collected through the Electronic Commerce Information System (ETBIS) and Electronic Commerce Information Platform. ETBIS data are to be utilized as the primary source in all analyses on the sector in the upcoming period. DOMESTIC EXPENDITURE 85% As reported by the official data on e-commerce revealed by the Ministry of Trade this year for the first time, Turkey’s e-commerce volume reached TRY136 billion in 2019. 85% of the total amount of e-commerce of 2019 is formed from the domestic expenditure, 9% originates from the transactions of other countries over the e-commerce websites of Turkey, and the remaining 6% originated from Turkish citizens’ transactions via the international sites. TRY97.5 billion of the e-commerce volume (71.5%) was realized with credit card payments, TRY8.9 billion (6.5%) through the ‘cash on delivery’ method, and the remaining TRY29.5 billion money orders/EFT payments. AIRLINE SECTOR RANKED FIRST According to the sectoral distribution on the e-commerce expenditure, the airline sector ranked first with TRY15.3 billion and was followed by clothing, shoes, and accessories sector with TRY13.8 billion. White appliances and small household appliances industries ranked third with TRY13.3 billion, online holiday, and travel with TRY9.3 billion, and electronics ranked fourth with TRY8.5 billion. The catering industry followed the electronics with a transaction volume of TRY5 billion. DISTRIBUTION OF CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS Excluding the airline and online holiday and travel sectors, the e-commerce volume reaches to TRY111.4 billion. About the credit card transactions in e-commerce, based on the number of placed orders, thesoftware sector ranked first with 75%. The horticulture industry has a 62, airlines 60, books and magazines 51, white appliances and small household appliances 50, electronics 43, holiday and travel 41, commercial car rental 29, and clothing has a percentage of 14. 46% IN ISTANBUL Considering the distribution of the e-commerce businesses in cities, 68 thousand and 457 e-commerce businesses are presently active in Turkey. With 31 thousand and 647 e-commerce businesses and 46 percent, Istanbul remains at the top of the list. Ankara follows Istanbul with 9% (6328 enterprises), Izmir with 7% (4725 businesses), and Bursa with 4% (2731 companies). COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES AND INDUSTRIAL ENTERPRISES 84% The volume of commercial businesses and industrial enterprises within the official data on e-commerce is remarkable. Eighty-four percent of the registered e-commerce transactions have been formed by companies run by merchants and industrialists, while tradespeople have formed 16 percent. Thirty-six percent of the sales via e-commerce has been conducted by the consumers living in Istanbul, 9 percent belongs to the inhabitants of Ankara, and consumers of Izmir executed 6 percent of such transactions. As mentioned earlier, in parallel to the percentage, consumers in Istanbul spent TRY48 billion and 960 million in e-commerce in 2019. RATE OF INSTALLMENT PAYMENTS 24% 76% of expenses on e-commerce are immediate payment, whereas the remaining 24% of these transactions are conducted with installment payments. The highest rate of e-commerce sales occurred in November, and the sales and campaigns of thee-commerce websites are believed to have a role in this rate. On the other hand, the lowest e-commerce expenses occurred during Ramadan and the wake of Sacrifice Holiday. e-commerce relatively increased in the first days of the week while it decreased in the last days of the week. 1 BILLION AND 366 MILLION ORDERS PLACED In 2019, a total of 1 billion and 366 million orders had been placed as part of e-commerce. When the distribution of the payment methods are examined, 532 million orders have been placed with credit card payments, 176 million orders have been put in with the ‘cash on delivery’ way, and 657 million orders have been paid through money order/EFT. In concern with the TRY136-billion amount in terms of e-commerce volume, the average basket total price has been TRY99.5. This amount has reached TRY183 in credit card payments, and TRY50 in cash on delivery. Specific to the sectors, the average basket total reached TRY874 in the airline sector, TRY160 in clothing, TRY174 in holiday and travel, TRY126 in electronics, TRY34 in the catering industry, TRY64 in books and magazine, TRY82 in the horticulture industry. E-COMMERCE GREW BY 48% DURING THE PANDEMIC For the unregistered data on the first five months of 2020, with an increase of 48% compared to the same term previous year, the volume of e-commerce has been TRY63.3 billion during the Covid-19 pandemic. The sectors that grew the most in the first five months in credit card payments have been white appliances and household appliances with 75 percent, clothing, shoes, and accessories with 43 percent, electronics with 53 percent, software with 95 percent, and food and supermarket with 400 percent. Considering the total expenditure actualized during March-April-May, the months dominated by the Covid-19 process; the food and supermarket expenses through e-commerce grew sixfold compared to last year. Spending in chemicals increased two and a half fold, expenses on white appliances doubled, and childcare expenses doubled as well.

07 Eylül 2020 Pazartesi