We evaluated our sector with Southeastern Anatolia Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association and GAİB Coordinator President Fikret Kileci, who made significant contributions by being amongst the collaboration organizations of Gaziantep Textile Machinery Fair GTM2025, which will be held at the Middle East Fair Center between October 15-17, 2025 with the support of relevant public and sector organizations, one of the most important events of this year in the textile sector.
GAİB: ‘’One of the Largest Exporters’ Unions in Turkey’’
President Kileci underlined their support as the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters’ Unions to exporters in the region and their assistance for the resolution of the problems and added, ‘’GAIB (Southeastern Anatolia Exporters’ Unions) is a Gaziantep-based organization serving under the roof of TIM (Turkish Exporters’ Assembly) and has been supporting exporters in the region and finding solutions to their problems since 1984. There are also liaison offices in Kahramanmaraş, Mardin, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Kilis, Cizre and Gaziantep Free Zone affiliated with the center. GAIB is one of the largest exporters’ unions in Turkey with over 18,000 members. It stands out especially with the training activities, sectoral delegations and design competitions it organizes, and the activities carried out aiming to increase the export capacity of the region. There are 4 Unions within GAIB.’’
Southeastern Anatolia Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (GATHIB),
Southeastern Anatolia Cereals, Pulses, Oil Seeds and Products Exporters’ Association,
Southeastern Anatolia Dried Fruits and Products Exporters’ Association,
Southeastern Anatolia Carpet Exporters’ Association (GAHIB),
Gaziantep Achieved 10.0 Billion Dollars of Export in 2024.
Providing information about Gaziantep's export potential, President Kileci said, ''Gaziantep is one of Turkey's most important export centers. By exporting 10.0 billion dollars in 2024, it has undertaken approximately 3.82% of the country's exports on its own. That is why it is the sixth province in Turkey that exports the most. The city draws attention with its production and export capacity in various sectors such as textiles and raw materials, grains, pulses, oilseeds and products, carpets, chemicals, and wood and forest products. It is Turkey's largest producer, especially in the production of machine-made carpets. The basis of Gaziantep's export success lies in its strong industrial infrastructure, qualified workforce and strategic geographical location. These elements have made the city the economic locomotive of the region.
Despite facing a major earthquake disaster and global economic uncertainties in 2023, exporters have quickly adapted to the difficult conditions and managed to recover successfully. Despite supply chain problems and increasing cost pressures, the city’s uninterrupted export and continual growth by maintaining its production capacity has once again demonstrated Gaziantep’s resilience and solid export potential.
GTM 2025 ‘’Sustainable Growth Opportunity in the Sector’’
While defining Gaziantep Textile Machinery Fair GTM2025 as a sustainable growth opportunity in the sector, Kileci said, ‘’Gaziantep Textile Machinery Fair is an important platform for manufacturers and suppliers to establish direct contact with potential buyers. We believe that the foundation of innovative collaborations that focus on sustainability and give importance to transformation will be laid in this organization where new investment opportunities for the sector will be evaluated.
We hope that an ecosystem will be formed in line with the principles of circular economy in this fair, which allows professional participants and visitors to expand their networks. We believe that the fair will also create an important ground for interactions between participants from different geographies. These interactions will enable the development of innovative designs and techniques and can be an opportunity for sustainable growth in the sector.’’
‘’Keeping Up with the Change in the Sector’’
GAİB President Fikret Kileci, whom we asked about evaluations regarding textile investments in Gaziantep, said, ‘’Gaziantep has a truly exemplary success story in the textile sector. Investments made in the city prioritize quality and value-added production in order to increase international competitiveness. However, significant investments need to be made in the fields of green transformation, sustainability and digitalization in order not to lose the know-how and resources in the sector. Keeping up with this change in the sector is of utmost importance in terms of the requirements of the European Green Deal and environmentally friendly production policies. Various studies are being carried out to replace conventional production methods with new production methods focused on environmentally friendly, green production and sustainability as a result of medium-long term plans. GAİB carries out important activities in order to support the transformation of exporters and manufacturers in these directions.’’
