SPOT: Contributing to a powerful Turkish ready-wear industry, the 9th Istanbul Fashion Conference was successfully held. Around 40 companies achieved almost 1000 B2B meetings.
Turkish Clothing Manufacturers’ Association (TGSD) arranged the 9th Istanbul Fashion Conference as a meeting point for textile, ready wear and retail industries on October 12-13 at Four Seasons Bosphorus Hotel. Attracting regional and global industry representatives every year, the event hosted sessions where industrial developments were evaluated on the first day, while new agreements were signed during B2B meetings on the second day. Nearly 1000 meetings between around 40 companies and purchasing committees refreshed confidence for manufacturing and export power.
The event’s opening ceremony on October 12 attracted the Minister of Economy, Nihat Zeybekçi as well as representatives of industrial associations and institutions, professionals. Zeybekçi spoke at the ceremony and underlined the importance of e-trade. Voicing their support plans for e-trade, he said that Turkey ranks among the first lines in terms of mobile phones per citizen.”Turkey stands at 7% in e-trade. Our country will shift to consumption frenzy in a very fast way. As the Ministry of Economy, we are working on an aim to push at least the half of our exports of nearly 75,000-80,000 to those e-trade portals. We will take on all the payments. We aim to have voiced across the world: Turks captured e-trade,” he stated.
Textile, apparel and fashion industries are extremely crucial for Turkey. Turkey created an incredible magic since exports campaign started. “We need to change in order to achieve our goal of USD500 billion exports by 2023, which we set with all our manufacturers. Fashion is very important for change. We need to set consumption habits. We need to be a brand with whole items as a country. I believe Turkey has reached that level already,” Zeybekçi highlighted.
Şeref Bayat: We Need to Improve in Branding and Innovative Production
The Turkish Clothing Manufacturers’ Association (TGSD) President Şeref Fayat deemed the Investment Subsidy Program for East and Southeast very positive for apparel industry. The program was announced by the government in September. Innovative production and smart product range are likely to expand quickly in line with increases government subsidies and Research&Development studies. “Innovative production means value-added production. The more we see progress in branding and innovative production, the faster we can achieve our goal of export income at USD50/kg,” Fayat marked.
The leading purchasing groups from the globe were at the conference, Fayat reminded, adding that they are set to sign very efficient business contracts thanks to B2B meetings supported by the ministry. “I would like to thank for their trust in Turkey’s future and us. Once more, I would frankly say that no one who invest in Turkey and sustain his trust to us at a hard time can regret as Turkey is the strongest and most stable economy within its region. All players who invest in this country and sustain its trade with Turkey will win as Turkey continues to grow further,” Fayat commented.
40 Companies and Purchasing Teams Held More Than 1000 Meetings
New co-operations were formed during the B2B meeting on the second day of the conference. These meetings gather global purchasing committees with local manufacturers in Turkey and hosted 40 companies this year. Representatives of companies including Adidas, Cherryfield, De Facto, El Corte Ingles, H&M, Koton, New Look, Spring Near East Manufacturing and Superdry Turkey as well as foreign buyers from Charles Vögele, Borussia Dortmund and etc. took their places during the meetings.