According to the report entitled “Textile Products Manufacturing Industry Sector Report” perpared by the five textile committees at ISO (Istanbul Chamber of Industry), Turkey moved up to seventh place among the world’s majör importer countries thanks to its 11 billion dollars worth exports figures achieved in 2012 in the textile industry.
In terms of entrepreneurs, wage workers, manufacture, added value and investments, Turkey’s share within total manufacturing industry dropped in 2011 compared to the level of the textile industry in 2004. The “Textile Products Manufacturing Industry Sector Report” drawn up by the five committees representing the manufacture of textile products at ISO (Istanbul Chamber of Industry) has been announced. During the elaboration of the report TUIK (Turkish Statistical Institute) data were taken as basis, according to the said report, Turkey moved up to seventh place among the world’s major importer countries thanks to its 11 billion dollar worth of textile exports figures achieved in the year 2012. Compared to textile industry’s situation in 2004, in terms of entrepreneurs, wage workers, manufacture, added value and investments. Turkey’s share within total manufacturing industry dropped in 2011.
WE HAVE BECOME THE SEVENTH EXPORTER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD
According to the report announced by İSO Consultant, Can Fuat Gürlesel, while Turkey’s textile sector’s exports were 7,08 billion dollars in 2005, in 2012 it increased its exports and elevated its export figures to 11,09 billion dollars and became the world’s seventh major exporter country. The majority of the sector’s exports were made to Russia, Germany, Italy, USA and Saudi Arabia. In addition to this in the same year, the share acquired by this sector from the total amount of Turkey’s exports figures regressed to 8,1 percent from 9,6 percent. Again in the same year, while textile import figures were 4,44 billion dollars, these figures increased to 6,59 billion dollars, its share in the total export figures went down to 3,8 percent from 3,8 percent.
WHILE IT GREW WITHIN ITS OWN SECTOR IT DECREASED IN THE MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
Whereas the textile industry grew in terms of creating employment and added value since 2004, it failed to achieve a similar success evidenced by the percentage share it achieved from the total manufacturing industry. Accordingly, while the number of entrepreneurs were a total of 19 thousand and 726 in 2004, the numbers rose to 23 thousand 12 people in 2011. In the same year, the said sector was successful in creating employment for 342 thousand 474 people by an increase of 2,6 percent, likewise it increased it production value from 31,65 billion TL to 59,76 billion TL and managed to increase added value from 7,8 billion TL to 11.81 TL. Whereas the textile sector incurred losses in terms of the share it received from Turkey’s total manufacturing industry. Accordingly, while the share of the textile entrepreneur was 7 percent in 2004, it decreased to 6,9 percent in 2001. The wageworker share of the sector in the same year dropped from 16 percent to 12 percent, it’s share in the production value dropped from 11 percent to 9 percent, it’s share in added value dropped from 11,6 percent to 9,2 percent and it’s share in investments dropped from 16,4 p ercent to 1,7 percent. The manufacture figures of the sector between the years 2005-2012 regressed to 8 percent and remained below the average manufacture industry production growth figures. The investment amount of the sector in 2011 was 5,23 billion TL.
BAHÇİVAN: “TEXTILE MANUFACTURERS SHOULD MANUFACTURE THEIR OWN MACHINES”
President of İSO (Istanbul Chamber of Industry) Board of Directors, Erdal Bahçıvan during his inaugural speech at the meeting entitled “Territories Touched by Textile” whereby members of the committee, representatives of firms and çivil society associations participated, talked about the importance of employment and exportation in the textile sector and continued to say that it still is of paramount importance especially for Istanbul a nd i ts s urroundings. B ahçıvan e mphasized on the fact that technology, innovation and R&D should be priority issues for the textile sector, “Countries and their sectors that have low quality training, where knowledge background and R&D capacities are weak, innovation and design capabilities are feeble should be ready to face against difficulties in terms of world competition in the coming days and should therefore take due action in consideration of the above mentioned facts. We are not creating added value, we cannot produce advanced technology. Whereas we are proud to use the technology we are unable to produce. This is true especially in the textile sector and it is a pathetic situation. Due to this reason, we should begin to take steps towards creating new possibilities in order to avoid spending the values gained on equipment tools in foreign countries. In this sense, our textile sector should be capable of manufacturing their own machinery” he said. İSO (Istanbul Chamber of Industry)
SHALL BE THERE TO GIVE ITS SUPPORT TO THE INDUSTRY-UNIVERSITY COOPERATION
Bahçıvan drew attention to the importance of university-industry collaboration for the sector and added as follows: “As İSO, we have established the Industry Development Platform with the participation and contributions of five major universities in Istanbul, namely Bosphorus, Istanbul, Istanbul Technical and Yıldız Technical Universities. In my opinion, through this cooperation we shall be able to obtain significant benefits in the field of training of our sector. Apart from training factor, we are in need of big technology centers. We as İSO, are always ready to lend a helping hand for these kinds of visionary approaches. I would especially like to stress the fact that our Chamber shall provide all kinds of assistance to our estimable representatives of this sector to participate to the international textile fairs and congresses that would enable them to open up to new markets and gain competitive advantages”.
LACK OF SUFFICIENT QUALIFIED PERSONNEL IS A SIGNIFICANT ISSUE
At the forum where the Report was discussed and solution offers were addressed, Vice President of İSO Assembly and President of Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters Association, İsmail Gülle said that in terms of production and exportation lack of sufficient qualified personel poses a very important problem. Attendees to the forum were as follows: 7th Group President of Industrial Yarn Profession Committee, Mehmet Adnan Öcalgiray, 8th Group Member Woven Fabric Industry Assembly and Professional Commitee Vice President, Ali Sami Aydın, 9th Group Textile Finishing, Print, Embroidery, Brode, Knit Fabric and Knit Wear Industry Assembly Member and President of Professional Committee, M. Selçuk Sadır, 10th Group Non-Garment Textile, Home Textile and None-Woven Goods Industry Assembly Member and President of Professional Committee Ali Zafer Şişman and 11th Group Clothing Side Industry Professional Committee Member Osman Ege.