Textile sector in Denizli which is one of the leading cities of textile sector and carried out 1,5 billion dollars textile export per year and has grown leaps and bounds after 1983, became the locomotive of city. Denizli taking the title ‘ Anatolian Tiger’ with its entrepreneurship has grown with its quality at towel, sheet, quilt cover and bathrobe production and the breakthroughs it has made at home textile in recent years and has begun to be called with the title ‘ the Capital of Textile’. The President of Denizli Exporters’ Association (DENIB) and who has the significant share in this success, Suleyman Kocasert answered the question of our Publication Group.
Suleyman Kocasert who said this success of Denizli which was the leading of the fast- growing cities at textile sector, was not a coincidence and he said “There are definite reasons for Denizli as its most important branches are textile and outfit for its economy. First of all, the historical reality must be underlined. In the region where includes Denizli as well, different civilizations lived during thousands years and textile became a part of financial life completely. We need to say that weaving centers in Denizli such as Babadag, Buldan and Kızılcaboluk have significant roles for having the success it has today.”
“Although the troubles, our export grew 4%”
Kocasert who stated that Denizli caught the economic model transition based upon the export in Turkey in last 30 years quiet successfully and said “Top performance carried out at textile and outfit sector’s export is the result of the entrepreneur soul and diligence of Denizli. The financial atmosphere in the world was not shiny in 2014. And the political crisis in the nearby countries showed themselves as compeller factors especially in the second half of the year. Among this, we can aline IŞID, the political air between Iraq and Syria, the problems between Ukraine and Russia. We left behind a year which demand reduction occurred all over the world.”
Kocasert saying that Turkey achieved to increase its general export 4% although these upheavals happened in the world said “About 1,5 billion dollars part of 3,2 billion dollars export in Denizli was carried out by textile and outfit sector. This equals to 5% increase when compared to the last year.”
“Our export will increase”
“Accordingly, when we look at the first quarter of 2015, we can say that the trend of the second half of 2014 has been keeping on for export. Frankly speaking, a fall in export shows itself. But this case is a result of global conjuncture. Gaining value of dollar against euro and changing of the parity beyond expected affected our export negatively. As a consequence, we are carrying out the important part of our export to European with euro. The opportunity which occurred with the value of dollar will be the increase potential of our export for the countries which we make with dollar. I guess we will see this in the statistics when we come at the end of 2015”.
Kocasert who added his words that the foresights made for this year will create an optimistic table after the second half of 2015 and in 2016 also said “I think the policies applied by Europe to revive its economy will form a basis for waking demand in Europe again”.
“Made by Denizli”
Kocasert who stated that they were working to make Denizli famous at any field and make a brand city which is the 8th city carrying out the most export of Turkey also said they made actual the slogan “Made by Denizli”. Kocasert stating this was a branding study and with this way they would introduce the quality of Denizli to the world marketplaces.
Kocasert who said the four main headings which exporters needed to give importance were innovation, R& D, design and branding, also said “Kilogram price of Turkish export is at 1,6 dollars level and to reach our 500 billon dollars export target, we have to raise this price to 3- 3,5 dollars level. At this point, the headings I stated are completely important. And the brand may be the most important one among these”.
Turkish Towels
Kocasert saying that branding was very important also added “The importance of brand and branding is more important than before at current foreign trade conjuncture. Turkish towel has a high sense which is known worldwide. All of the foreigner actors which are active at home textile know Denizli closely and they know that the biggest part of Turkish towel are produced in Denizli and exported to the different regions of the world. Just like Denizli travertine, Denizli towels has a disparate value and meaning as well. As being DENIB (Denizli Exporters’ Association), we made a brand and logo study to make Turkish towel concept reach a strong awareness level to the final consumers. Not to make a regionalism, we called it ‘Turkish Towel’. Today even in Chile, towels in good stores are sold as Turkish towel. In certain hotel in USA, advertisements are made as ‘In our hotel, Turkish towels and bathrobes are used’. As there is that value in our city, it will be a big injustice not to use it. Therefore we made it a responsibility as DENIB. Actually, the thing we try to make is to move the existing potential and help towel export to develop in our country.”
Antidumping Preacutions
Kocasert who stated that the most important advantage at towel production of Denizli is the quality level it reached with the experience it had also said that although there existed cheaper Far East origin supplying opportunity, he said about the preference of Denizli “It is quiet natural to be selected by the customers as being able to respond to the demands of customers and perfect after sales service. One another advantage of us is of course the closeness of our geographic situation to Europe which is our main marketplace. Thanks to this, we can responds demands in a short time”.
Concerning the antidumping precautions for export increase which is among the most important export items at home textile field of Turkey, Kocasert said “We need to accept that foreign trade has its own Dynamics. While having such a powerful home textile substructure in Turkey, of course importing of these products from outside cannot be a situation which is desired”.
“We are caring for Social Responsibility Projects”
Kocasert who gave the information that Denizli Exporters’ Association was not only founded for the troubles and the solutions of the firms carrying out export but also it is an association to commit itself to take part in social responsibility projects as a Non-Governmental Organization, he also said that in this regard they presented their contributions for the events which was organized in behalf of Denizli Foster- Parents Association last year. Kocasert who stated that they donated the revenue obtained from the fashion Show for the association and they helped the indigent families, he also said “Apart from this, with the purpose of removing the problems which happen due to the make daughters get married in early ages instead of sending them to the school and they become bride and mother in their child ages and with the purpose of increase their education level and helping the social developing, we provided to be built a stitching atelier at Mardin Kızıltepe Girls’ Technical and Vocational High School with the attendance of our Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci”.
Kocasert who also added his words that they organized the fourth one of DENIB Home and Beach Wearing Design Competition this year said that they both discover the young designers with this competition and also they help sector to take advantage of these successful youngs. Kocasert continued his words and said “Besides that, we are taking the products of Denizli to the foreign customers with the marketing committee within the scope of Developing of International Competitiveness Project which we carry out with the supports of the Ministry of Economy and we target to make contribution for developing of export by bringing the purchasing committees to Denizli. Within this Project, until today we organized activities for USA, England, Poland, China and Japan marketplaces and we took positive results”.
Besides these activities, Kocasert said they organized training for government supports and incentives and the subjects they needed to be careful while carrying out export with DENIB Academy which was the platform of informing the exporters in Denizli.
