OCP, the largest enterprise of Morocco, and Toros Agri become partners in Turkey

6/14/2012

OCP, the largest  enterprise of Morocco and provider of an important share of the world’s phosphate exports is partnering with one of Turkey’s biggest Agricultural Industry Group,  Toros Agri.

The joint venture company, called Black Sea Fertilizer Trading Co. will export phosphate fertilizers; some of which will be produced at Toros Agri’s Samsun plant to Eastern Europe, the Balkans, and Central Asia.

The capital distribution of the joint-venture company will be 70% for OCP, and 30% for Toros Agri. The partnership agreement was signed by Mhamed Ibnabdeljalil, OCP Executive Vice-President of Sales, Marketing and Raw Materials Procurement and Esin Mete, Chairwoman of Toros Agri and CEO of Tekfen Agri-Industry Group.

Turkey is a window into a vast market
Mhamed Ibnabdeljalil, OCP Executive Vice-President of Sales, Marketing and Raw Materials Procurement explained that OCP’s strategy, geared towards building a strong presence in growing markets, led to a joint-venture with Toros Agri, a long-time partner of OCP.  “We are happy to be in a partnership with Toros Agri. This venture will enable us to serve our clients in this region in a shorter time, from a shorter distance. In this region, Turkey has a hinterland that spreads over a vast geographical area. Together with Toros Agri, we aim to leverage our positioning in Turkey and extend our growth to new surrounding markets; while contributing to agricultural development and food security in this region”.

“OCP is a major global player in phosphate mining and marketing as well as Fertilizer production and distribution,” he continued, “Our new trading entity, Black Sea Fertilizer Trading Co. (BSFT) will enable both partners to accelerate their development into this rapidly-growing market by ensuring a strong proximity with clients and a seamless distribution of fertilizers to fully address the needs of the farmer community in the region. Furthermore, BSFT’s mission will extend beyond trading activities, as it will serve as a consulting vehicle to the Cooperatives and farmer ecosystem in the region by providing them best-in-class agronomical services.

Toros Agri – OCP cooperation goes back a long way
Esin Mete, Chairwoman of Toros Agri and CEO of Tekfen Agri-Industry Group, stated, “As one of the major players of the Turkish agricultural sector, we are taking steps to enhance our leading position in a competitive market in order to provide sustainable supply of raw materials and to offer our products to farmers continuously.”

“Our cooperation with OCP,” Esin Mete continued, “which commands an important share of the world’s phosphate exports and is the biggest enterprise of Morocco, goes back a long way. This partnership will carry this cooperation based on mutual trust much further. Our aim is to continue this trust and cooperation for many years to come and to launch together on new accomplishments.”

70% OCP, 30% Toros Agri
Esin Mete emphasized that according to the partnership agreement, 70% of Black Sea Fertilizer Trade Co. will belong to OCP, and 30% to Toros Agri, adding, “Our goal is to carry our activities on a broader international scale. We especially target growth in the global fertilizer market through regional strategic partnerships. As an initial step, this joint venture with OCP is an important milestone.