Throughout the world, the migration of capital from the west to the east leads exporters to turn to the Far East. In the coming period, the leather and leather products sector will also focus on the Far East through South Korea.
Erkan Zandar, President of Leather Products Exporters Association and Ege Leather, said that South Korea has the potential to be a very attractive export market for the leather industry and that they planned two sectoral trade missions in South Korea in the next period.
Ege Leather and Leather Products Exporters Association organized the iftar at Izmir Tennis Club and Zandar stated, “We organized a study tour to South Korea on March 16-18, 2019 with Mustafa Şenocak, Chairman of the Board of İstanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters Association. South Korea, with a population of 55 million, has great opportunities for Turkish leather sector with high purchasing power. Annual leather and leather products imports are 6.7 billion dollar. Turkey's exports in 2018 was 39 million dollar. Between South Korea and Turkey there is free trade agreement (STA). We have a chance to increase our trade quickly. In the coming period, we will perform two sectoral trade delegations, one for the footwear and leather goods sectors and one for the leather garments and fur sectors.”
We can increase our e-export
Zandar explained that from Turkey to South Korea is up two flights each day and it is a great opportunity and he continued, “In South Korea, we visited the Fashion Plazas that conteins Japan and China’s goods. Shopping is very active. We are currently conducting comprehensive Market Research on South Korea. N11 is the online shopping portal in Turkey bought by South Koreans. We can also expand our e-export to South Korea.”
Zandar also gave information about the activities of Ege Leather and Leather Products Exporters' Association in the last one year, he said that they have organized a national participation organization with 27 companies at Euro Shoes Premiere Collection Fair on 27 - 30 August 2018 in Moscow and they also organized a national participation in the same fair between 25 - 28 February 2019. Zandar shared the information that they had undertaken the National Participation Organization with 10 companies at the Expo Riva Schuh Fair held in Garda, Italy between 12-15 January 2019. Zandar said that they would continue to organize national participation in both fairs.
We became a leader in e-export
Zandar gave information about e-commerce, which has been increasing day by day in the world market, and that its members are making efforts to get more share and continued, “We are dealing with e-exports before the Aegean Exporters Association after then organized an e-Export Summit with the participation of 1138 people at Izmir Swissotel. We have been a pioneer in e-export. Our goal is to increase the export of our exporters to adapt to the electronic transformation, we will continue to work on this issue.
