Gaziantep, the capital of the carpet industry, is preparing to host Gaziantep Carpet Fair to be held for the first time this year. Organised by Tüyap Fair Organization Group in cooperation with Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce, the fair will be held at Gaziantep Middle East Fair Center (OFM) on May 28-31, 2024 with the support of Gaziantep Governorship, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Southeastern Anatolia Carpet Exporters Association (GAHİB), Gaziantep Chamber of Carpets and Weavers. The fair will be open to visitors on May 28-30 between 10.00-18.00 and on May 31, between 10.00-17.00.
A large number of foreigners from North Africa and Europe, mainly from the Middle East and MENA region, are expected to visit the fair. The fair will include all production items of the sector, including handmade carpets and prayer rugs. Machine-made carpets, rugs and mats, prayer rugs, textile floor coverings (wall-to-wall), fibres, yarns and textiles, textile machinery and accessories will be exhibited at the fair, aiming to make a great contribution to the commercial targets of the carpet sector.
Gaziantep will show its potential to the world
Tüyap Fairs Productions Inc. General Manager İlhan Ersözlü stated that Gaziantep is the world leader in the production and export of machine-made carpets, pointing out that such potential should be better known in the world and in Türkiye. Ersözlü disclosed: “We think that our fair, which we will organise for the first time, will make a lot of impact this year. We will include all production items of the sector from handmade carpets to woven floor coverings and prayer rugs.”
Chairman of the Board of Directors of Gaziantep Chamber of Commerce Tuncay Yıldırım evaluated the fact that sector representatives from all over the world will come to the city for Gaziantep Carpet Fair as exciting and stated as follows: “I have no doubt that this fair, to strengthen the existing business connections of our companies in the sector as well as to establish new business connections, will also contribute positively to the recovery of our region, which was heavily damaged by the earthquakes of February 6th, and to the revival of trade and production. We are waiting for all sector representatives to Gaziantep on May 28th”
Turkish carpet sector exports approximately 3 billion dollars to 117 countries
While the trade volume of the carpet sector in the world reaches 17.2 billion dollars, Türkiye exports approximately 3 billion dollars’ worth of carpets to 117 countries. Türkiye ranks second in the world in all carpet types and first in machine-made carpet production. Among the top 10 exporting countries are the USA (45 percent), Iraq, England, Germany, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Russia and Kazakhstan.