Kahramanmaraş is one of the cities that have recently leapt forward in Turkey. It is one of the most important industrial cities of Turkey with its annual industrial production amounting to $ 5 billion, foreign trade volume amounting to $ 2.1 billion and export target amounting to $ 5 billion. Making significant moves especially in the field of textile, Kahramanmaraş manufactures 35 % of the yarn and 10 % of the knitted fabric in Turkey.
We asked the factors affecting these developments in the industry of Kahramanmaraş which achieved such a phenomenal success as well as the fairs and organisations contributing to the cultural and social life of the city to Fatih Mehmet Erkoç, Mayor of Kahramanmaraş. Stating that economic structure of Kahramanmaraş was based on agriculture and handcrafts until 1968, Fatih Mehmet Erkoç added that the city underwent a significant change after it was included among the development priority cities and continued by saying, “Since 1968, small-scale enterprises have turned into large-scale enterprises. As of the beginning of 1980s, Kahramanmaraş has entered into the process of industrialisation and modern trade following a great industrial move. In particular, the private sector investments made in 1990s played a key role in the industrialisation of the city. Between 1995 and 1997, a significant progress was made in the process of industrialisation and numerous investments were made and put into practice. Entrepreneurs from Kahramanmaraş made best use of the incentives granted by the government for industrialisation and export and played a key role in the establishment of the current robust and dynamic economic structure of the city.”
“We Compete with the World in Textile”
Stating that Kahramanmaraş went beyond the standards of Turkey in terms of technology and quality and became capable of competing in the world markets in the textile industry which is the most advanced part of the economy of Kahramanmaraş, Erkoç added, “Having an incontestable place in the economical growth of both the city and the country, textile sector ensures a high foreign currency inflow and affects employment considerably. The most important two characteristics of the clothing industry which developed in parallel to the textile industry are high added value and employment opportunities offered.”
Saying that Kahramanmaraş has made a breakthrough in the textile and clothing sectors in the last two decades and turned into an industrial city by almost coming out of its shell, Erkoç added, “Just like the War of Independence, it became an industrial city by succeeding in defeating its unfortunate destiny in the economy through its own resources and managed to have a voice in the world with its own brands. Today Kahramanmaraş is one of 46 technology development regions in Turkey.”
We Manufacture Yarn for the World
Adding that almost 12 % of all textile investments that have been made since 1980 in Turkey has been made by the industrialists from Kahramanmaraş, Erkoç continued by saying, “In Kahramanmaraş, textile industry is followed by the iron-steel industry. 60 % of metal kitchenware, 9 % of cement and 20 % of paper manufactured in Turkey are manufactured in Kahramanmaraş. We have firms manufacturing fabrics and yarns for the world’s giants. We have world-famous enterprises producing ice-cream. However, we need to increase the number of brands directly reaching the consumers and establish the consciousness of branding. As for us, we will fulfil our duties in this process by turning Kahramanmaraş, which has recently become a metropolitan municipality, into a brand city via our projects for urban transformation, recreation areas and ski resorts.”
“Fairs as Showcases of the Cities”
Saying with respect to the fairs held in Kahramanmaraş in recent years that, “The fairs held in our country serve as a showcase” and continued by saying, “The particular products and values of the cities are the embroideries decorating the showcases. In Kahramanmaraş, a city which proved itself in many fields including its industry, its leadership in the textile sector, its gold works as well as its poets, we organized numerous fairs by paying regard to the social, cultural and economic structure. Kahramanmaraş Textile Machinery Fair – KTM – hosted by our city on 23-25 October 2014 managed to gather international participants and visitors and took its place in the showcase with its entire nobleness.”
Stating that they organized the biggest and most glorious book and culture fair of Anatolia in 2014 in as the capital of poetry, Erkoç added that, “On 15-17 May 2015, we organized the Middle East Gold and Jewellery Fair. Our city which is called as “Golden City” organized this event with a visual feast in a manner worthy of the name. Henceforward, we will exert every effort to display all values of our city in our showcase and continue our activities without cease in order to add value to our existing values.”
“KTM 2016 is a Great Opportunity”
Expressing that, “Being the meeting point of such cities as Adana, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Niğde, Kayseri, Malatya, Şanlıurfa and Adıyaman which constitute the centre of textile and clothing production, our city has a key location for such a fair. In 2014, we hosted the first of Kahramanmaraş Textile Machinery Fair which took place with the participation of about 250 brands from 21 countries with the aim of meeting the leading figures of the textile sector with the region where most of the Turkish textile and clothing production is made”, Erkoç said about KTM to be held for the second time on 28-30 April 2016, “Such fairs contribute greatly to the economy and social life of the cities where they are held. The organisation of Kahramanmaraş Textile Machinery Fair which will attract the attention of the textile sector, one of the locomotive sectors of the economy of Kahramanmaraş, for the second time will bring great opportunity for our city and region. I believe that the representatives from numerous textile firms operating in our region and in Kahramanmaraş will make the best use of this occasion and there will be immense participation from the region as in the first one.”
International Textile Summit
With respect to the International Textile Summit to be held for the third time concurrently with KTM 2016, Erkoç said that, “We held International Textile Summit with the participation of esteemed guests from Turkey and the world in our city, the centre of textile, in 2013 and 2014. In the summit which was held by Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam University and Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the support of the Eastern Mediterranean Development Agency of the Republic of Turkey, the textile sector was discussed from all aspects. Panels were organised and presentations were made on such issues as marketing, production, technology, human resources and energy by the firm owners, managers and public representatives. The present situation of the textile technologies and reflections of the academic studies on the sector were evaluated by the academicians from Turkey and the world. With the R&D Project Market held within the scope of the summit, the projects that are designed by the academicians and wait for realisation were displayed. Such international activities help our city become a brand city to be followed by both national and global markets. Afterwards, we will continue doing our best to promote all values of our city.”
