Amidst calls for a freeze on business deals, and a review of bilateral trade ties with Türkiye following the escalated India-Pak hostilities, the Cotton Association of India has joined the nation-wide Boycott Türkiye campaign and urged the cotton trading community “to consider stopping” all cotton trade with Türkiye and explore alternative options to suit “our nation's interest” and promote a strong and self-reliant India..
- Türkiye imports cotton and other material from India. In 2024, Turkiye's total imports from India including cotton amounted to US$74.27 million whereas its exports to India during the same period amounted to US$2.84 billion.
- The militant attack on tourists at Pahalgam in Kashmir on 22 April followed by India’s strikes on terror camps in the neighbouring country saw Türkiye back Pakistan and condemn India. Besides Türkiye, Azerbaijan also offered support to the rogue country in the wake of Operation Sindoor.
- Apart from military action, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi also sent a strong message against tolerance for terrorism. He sent a clear message to the world: terror and trade, terror and talks cannot go together.
Turkey and Azerbaijan's support has triggered calls to boycott visits to the two nations, in India. The CAIT or Confederation of All India Traders has also called for a boycott of all trade and commercial engagement with Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
WHAT THEY SAID:
All countries of the world prioritise their own interest when choosing their business partners. Therefore, keeping the recent geopolitical developments and Türkiye’s anti-India policies in mind, we earnestly request our cotton trading community to consider stopping all our cotton trade with Türkiye and explore alternative options to suit our nation's interest and promote a strong and self-reliant India. We urge you to lend whole-hearted support to boycott Türkiye Campaign.
— Atul S Ganatra
President
Cotton Association of India
