Page 6 - ITM NEWS

‘‘ITM; An Exhibition that Adds

Value to Istanbul as well as

the Textile Industry’’

Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Chairman of the Board Şekib Avdagiç stated: ‘‘I must emphasize that the ITM

Exhibition has an important role in the perception and branding of Istanbul as the city of exhibitions. As the
Chairman of the Board of Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, I am delighted to see the traces of a professional

endeavor that will uplift the success of the ITM even higher than that of the previous year’s exhibition.’’

stanbul, is leading the way of the locomotive billion dollars. However, I must add that signs of
cities of Turkish economy. According to recovery also make their presence known.
the Turkish Statistical Institute’s data; the 2019 export statistics indicate us another subtle
Ilargest contribution to Turkey’s overall export point in terms of textile industry. In the January
performance is achieved by Istanbul on the basis of - October period of 2019, the highest increase in
provinces. Our national overall exports reached 125 textile exports was recorded in Turkic Republics;
billion 765 million dollars in the January-September namely Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Azerbaijan
period of 2019. Istanbul, which has a share of more with an increase amount of 9.9 percent. The group
than 50 percent in the total of this figure, provided of countries that our textile exports declined the
the highest contribution on the basis of provinces. most was the Asian and Oceania countries with
In the first nine months of 2019, Istanbul’s exports a decrease of 13.4 percent. We must take the
amounted to 63 billion 621 million dollars. necessary measures to eliminate this market loss
Considered one of the capitals of world trade, by paying attention to this fact. In this matter, both
Istanbul is home to the Istanbul Chamber our companies and the Ministry of Commerce have
of Commerce (ITO), the largest professional an important assignment to determine the market
organization in the business world. The Istanbul policies that will compensate for the deficiencies.
Chamber of Commerce, which represents 81 Consequently, we can say that the textile sector
professional groups and 400 thousand companies has surpassed a troubled process with the least
in Istanbul, is chaired by Şekib Avdagiç. loss possible and that our economy will bring out a
We have interviewed with Şekib Avdagiç who has rapid recovery within the balancing period in 2020. I
been the chairman of the Board of Directors of believe that the textile industry, which is among the
Istanbul Chamber of Commerce since April 2018 for most ambitious industries of the Turkish economy,
our ITM 2020 News magazine. possesses the power and the potential to set new
acquisitions on the gains achieved so far.
■ The textile sector, providing added value and Şekib Avdagiç - İTO Chairman of the Board
undertaking the leading role in the closure of the ‘‘WE ATTACH IMPORTANCE TO THE SETTLEMENT
current account deficit, is of capital importance The textile sector was also affected by all these OF ISTANBUL’S IMAGE AND PERCEPTION AS THE
for the Turkish economy, industry, and exports. developments. Unfortunately, this was reflected in ‘CITY OF EXHIBITIONS’”
Could you please explain your expectations and our export rates. For instance, in October 2019, our ■ The exhibition sector, which we name as the
predictions about the investments and course of textile exports decreased by 5.2 percent and reached flue-free industry, makes a significant contribution
exports in the textile sector in 2019? to the amount of 887 million dollars. When we look to the national economies. For example;
The textile sector is among the leading sectors with approximately 10 million people visited the
serious and important advantages from the past to exhibition organized in Germany in 2018. Between
the present in the international markets on behalf “ITM Exhibition is a very large exhibition, the years 2014 and 2017, the expenditures of the
of our country. At the same time, the textile industry which adds value not only to the textile participants in the exhibitions in Germany were
became the sector that produced the most added close to 14.5 billion Euros. What kind of steps
value, experienced in global competition, and finally industry but also to Istanbul with more should be taken in order to enhance the exhibition
greatly contributed to the closure of the current than 1000 participating companies from sector in our country which provides a big
account deficit which was a problem for our country approximately 100 countries and a record contribution to the national economy?
since 1980, when the Turkish economy adopted an Let me start by adding what you say for Germany.
export-based and outward-oriented growth model. number of local and international visitors.” Germany, at the end of World War II, was at the
For a very long time, it didn’t lose its seat as the position that all its industrial cities were destroyed
most exporting sector to any other industries. As for and the qualified manpower was lost, however,
today; as you know, general problems such as the at the first ten months of 2019, we see that our total the point that they started to develop was the
recent conflicts in the world economy, contraction, textile and related raw material exports decreased exhibitions. The Germans convinced the Allied
etc. had their reflection on our economy. by 5.5 percent and reached to the amount of 8.3 commanders and rendered each of their important

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