The Chairman of the Board of Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters’ Association (ITHIB), Ismail Gülle gathered up the journalists in a chat meeting in which 2015 and the targets of 2016 of the sector were evaluated. Gülle who stated that sector export carried out to Russia with which aircraft tension happened fell to 10 million dollars by decreasing 80%, said ‘’We realized 475 million dollars export to Russian in 2015. There is a 40% of fall throughout the year. Despite this, our biggest second market place is still Russia. We drew up a list on the firms which carry out more than 50% of their turnovers. 178 firms which employ 60 thousands of people have 350 million dollars of receivables from Russia. The share of these firms at sector export to Russia is 80%.’’
“Firms are really in trouble”
Gülle said that after crisis 350 million dollars of the firms remained to Russia and they thought that they couldn’t take this money back. Ismail Gülle who told that they submitted the report related Russia to the concerned ministry, said ‘’These firms are really in trouble. The goods which were ordered were remained in their hands. They have receivables but they cannot take them back by going there. These firms need to be backed like raw vegetables and fruits. In this respect, the duration of the loans need to be extended. Loan and the debts need to be postponed without interest.’’
“The Market which makes us happy most is EU”
Gülle who gave the information that a 21% of decrease in general export in the first week of January, said ‘’Our sector export which was 8.8 billion dollars in 2014, fell to 8 billion dollar in 2015. If the things are going well and we have 10% of increase in 2016, we will reach the number in 2014. The market which makes us happy most is EU.’’
“Iran can be first market at textile”
The President of ITHIB, Ismail Gülle who stated that their export raised 5% once the embargos were removed for Iran, said ‘’We went to Iran twice. Now all of the institutions are like attacking there separately, this is a mistake. Government needs to follow a strategy here based on countries. Our export increased to Iran after preferential trade agreement. Our export is 400 million dollar as the sector. We can rise up billions of dollars. There is a serious demand. It can be our first market at textile.’’
