According to the research conducted by Adana Chamber of Industry (ADASO) considering the 2019 data, the textile and apparel industry constitutes 24.9% of the total employment of the manufacturing industry. Accordingly, one out of every 3.5 people employed in the manufacturing industry works in the textile and apparel industry.
Adana Chamber of Industry President Zeki Kıvanç said that there are many factors in the increase in employment in the textile and apparel industry. Kıvanç; “The most important factor in the increase is the trade policy measures implemented against unfair import. The most effective in this is undoubtedly the additional tax decision imposed on imports in 2011”.
Pointing out that the Turkish textile and apparel industry has reached a point competing with the world, Kıvanç argued that the increase in the number of employment is proof of this. Kıvanç continued his words as follows; “Employment losses in the textile and apparel industry, which were damaged due to the increasing imports in the early 2000, reduced the sector to 689 thousand 554 employees in 2009. The textile and ready-to-wear sector, which increased its employment numbers with the trade policy measures in 2011, reached the number of 1 million 2 thousand 690 jobs in 2019 and increased by 46 percent. In the last 10 years, 313 thousand 136 additional jobs were provided in the sector”.
“Textile industry represents our country in the champions league”
Zeki Kıvanç said that textile and apparel sector realized 28 billion USD in exports in 2019, and created significant added value for Turkey. Kıvanç underlined that these sectors are the only sectors that do not have a current account deficit and yield a trade surplus of 16-17 billion dollars per year. Kıvanç noted that the textile industry continues to grow day by day, and stated that the sector, which provides the most important contributions to employment and trade, has become the most developed and modern industry in the country with its technology and knowledge. Kıvanç said; “Turkey’s textile and apparel industries are representing our country in champions league, so to speak”.
ADASO report: Additional tax decision in 2011 was the turning point for the industry
Reiterating that the additional tax decision that came into force in July 2011 was effective in the increase in employment, Zeki Kıvanç expressed the following; “With the additional tax decision taken, it became a milestone for Turkish textile and apparel manufacturers. Thanks to this decision, textile garment industry-dominated cities such as Istanbul, Izmir, Adana, Bursa and Denizli were revived. With the decision that significantly increased employment; importers who previously supplied a significant part of their products from abroad; started to work more intensively with domestic producers in line with the increasing import costs”.
Explaining that the Turkish textile and apparel industry is getting stronger in global markets; Kıvanç mentioned that there are important developments in terms of production diversity, skilled workforce and established infrastructure. Kıvanç; “Turkish textiles, which used to have an imitation and contract manufacturing orientation in the past; have now created fashion offering brands and have reached very good points in foreign markets. Textile creates a significant added value with its exports of 4.5 dollars/kg and 14.5 dollars/kg in ready-to-wear clothing. In this period, where social and environmental issues are increasingly important; as well as the fast delivery time, the Turkish textile apparel sector has important advantages. New investments to be made in the field of branding and technical; and functional textiles will help the sector to reach different points”.
ADASO President Zeki Kıvanç, who said that there is a woman employment exceeding 40% in the sector; and added that if it is supported by the right policies; the sector will be the most important antidote to unemployment in the coming period as it was in the past.