Facilitating that the exporter firms operate together for the sector, the exporter’s associations, were firstly established 77 years ago in 1937. During first years of the Republic of Turkey, it was aimed to increase the level of export and ensure the coordination between enterprises thanks to the associations.
"The Exporters' Association" concept was so new for the merchant of the Republic of Turkey in its first years; the professional association was not a different case for the people of Anatolia. Because, there was the system of Ahi Community in the period of Ottoman Empire which was similar to today's professional chambers, the artisans and craftsmen were acting in unity. Having fundamental business knowledge and culture, the investors could see how much they export and record the volume of the export increase according to the years thanks to these associations. This situation allowed for the country which had just won the War of Independence to develop and the investors to determine the direction of their investments more rapidly. Although almost a century period, the exporters' associations hold an important place in the economy of contemporary Turkey and continue to develop both Turkey and exporters.
According to 2009 figures, there are 61 exporters associations operating in 24 different sectors and sub-sectors in Turkey. In this issue, we, as Textile World Magazine, examined closer İTKİB, Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters' which is Turkey's export champion in the field textile.
İTKİB is the Best of Turkey
One of the exporters' associations, organized as 13 general secretaries throughout Turkey, ITKIB general secretary consists of such organizations as Istanbul Textile and Apparel Exporters ' Association, Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters' Association, Istanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters' Association, Istanbul Carpet Exporters' Association. In terms of their members and export volume, these four associations operating in the body of İTKİB are the biggest in their respective fields.
İTKİB Attends Almost 30 Fairs in a Year
Setting its main target as increasing the export volume of Turkey in the textile sector, ITKIB holds various organizations and events in order to develop the international commercial relations of its members and improve their export performances. The association, in this regard, conducts activities in the fields of economic research and reporting, PR activities, training activities, consultancy services, coordination, publication activities and supporting exportation.
The association informs its members about the cooperation and export demands of foreign firms and organizes participation in international fairs in order to promote the textile products exported by its members. Members are encouraged to participate in these fairs and promote their products. Among the international activities of the association, the association sends commercial delegations to foreign countries and invites purchase delegations to Turkey.
Support to Promotion of Domestic Products
Association organizes Young Fashion Designers and Fabric Design and Carpet Design Competitions in order to encourage the youth and contribute to the sectoral developments in the textile and carpet sector every year. Conducting a Fashion and Textile Business Cluster Project funded by the European Union, the association also conducts the project called “Turquality” in order to increase the quality of the products produced by the Turkish textile industry in the foreign markets. The firms applying for the fund of State Subsidies in Export are also evaluated by ITKIB General Secretary. At the same time, the association informs its members of the relevant legal amendments in Turkey and countries to which export is made.
Full support for education
In addition to the competitions intended to encourage the youth, ITKIB organizes production and marketing seminars and short and long term courses for its members and employees. Besides, ITKIB contributes to school in terms of curriculum content, books and periodical publications in order to facilitate the training of qualified work force needed to increase quality in the textile sector.
