Top traders' body to decide today on boycott of Turkey, Azerbaijan — key export numbers inside

India-Pakistan Conflict: The Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT) will convene a national conference today, 16 May, in New Delhi, with key trade leaders from across the country in attendance amid rising calls to boycott Turkish products. At this conference, a decision will be made on halting all import-export trade with Turkey and Azerbaijan due to their support for Pakistan, CAIT said on 15 May.

CAIT said that there is no question of trading with countries that are against India, and this is the time for Indian traders to demonstrate their patriotism. Traders across the country are standing united under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the traders' body said.

CAIT is a leading traders’ body representing the interests of over nine crore traders and small businesses across India with a vast network of over 40,000 trade associations.

$5.2 billion India’s exports to Turkey till Feb

CAIT Secretary General and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament from Chandni Chowk, Praveen Khandelwal, stated that according to available data, from April 2024 to February 2025, India’s exports to Turkey were valued at USD 5.2 billion, compared to USD 6.65 billion in 2023–24. During the same period, imports from Turkey were USD 2.84 billion, down from USD 3.78 billion in 2023–24, Khandelwal said.

Similarly, during this period, India’s exports to Azerbaijan were only USD 86.07 million, down from USD 89.67 million in 2023–24, he said. “On the other hand, imports from Azerbaijan were USD 1.93 million during this period, compared to USD 0.74 million in 2023–24,” Khandelwal noted.

The conference comes at a time when social media is abuzz with boycott calls for travel to Turkiye. This is because Turkiye and Azerbaijan are accused of providing military assistance to Pakistan as it tried to overwhelm the Indian air defence system using swarm drones after India struck terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK) during Operation Sindoor on May 7.

CAIT national president BC Bhartia said India exports several key items to Turkey, including refined petroleum, motor vehicles and parts, steel, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, precious stones, and textiles. In return, India imports crude petroleum, machinery, marble, gold, fruits, plastics, and textiles from Turkey.

India exports tobacco, electronics, machinery, pharmaceuticals, ceramic products, grains, etc. to Azerbaijan and imports mainly mineral oils, chemicals, raw hides, aluminium, and cotton from that country, CAIT said.

Khandelwal said that as a result of the trade boycott, Turkey could suffer billions of dollars in export losses, which would significantly affect its domestic industries such as stone and mining, furniture, textiles, and food processing.

“The trade with India is profitable for both these countries, and if Indian traders and industrialists collectively boycott trade with them, it will financially shake them and make them pay the price for standing against India,” Khandelwal pointed out.

#BoycottTurkey

The number of Indians travelling to these two nations has already dropped in the last few days amid boycott calls from various sections. According to a statement from MakeMyTrip on May 14, flight bookings to these two nations have dropped by 60 per cent over the past week, while cancellations have jumped 250 per cent.