Ozcan Sezer, a Turkish businessman who runs a restaurant in Yiwu, introduces his ice cream brand MADO to a visitor at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

The second China International Import Expo (CIIE) greatly boosted the popularity of Turkish ice cream brand MADO, said Ozcan Sezer from Turkey, at his restaurant in Yiwu on Nov 18.

Ozcan is one of the over 500 foreign businessmen who volunteered to join Yiwu's expat delegation to CIIE, where their products proved quite popular with visitors from home and abroad.

MADO is a famous ice cream brand in Turkey which was founded over 100 years ago.

In 2017, Ozcan, after running his restaurant business in Yiwu for eight years, began selling the ice cream. He added over 10 new flavors to appeal to locals.

The ice cream proved instantly popular.

Wherever there's MADO ice cream, there's plenty of smiles. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

Ozcan's restaurant offers traditional Turkish grilled delicacies, a variety of desserts, and other Turkish specialties, with spices and ingredients imported from Turkey. 

Ozcan also localized the Turkish dishes, such as lamb casserole, chicken cockpit, and vanilla sauce roast chicken.

"I want to offer customers the best services and the most authentic Turkish cuisine," said Ozcan Sezer. 

Before living in Yiwu, Ozcan was a professional soccer player and played for the Vitesse club in Arnhem, Netherlands. 

After being seriously injured during a game in 2008, Ozcan, aged 33 at the time, was advised by friends to seek his fortune in Yiwu, a small commodities paradise and a second home for many foreign merchants.

According to the public security bureau of Yiwu, the city is home to around 15,000 expats from more than 100 countries, and receives more than 550,000 foreign merchants every year.