The 5th International Textile Summit (UTZ) was held in Kahramanmaraş on 11 November 2021 in a same timetable with the International Textile Machinery Fair (KTM2021). Export and Finance were the major topics at the International Textile Summit that hosted by the Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KMTSO) Amongst the participating guests of the International Textile Summit this year; Our Deputy Minister of Trade Tuna Toragay, TİM President İsmail Gülle, BDDK President Mehmet Ali Akben as well as many leading figures from the global finance and world economy took part in. Also, Türk Eximbank Kahramanmaraş Official Opening was taken place during the summit.
‘’We are Thankful to the Officials Whom Supported Us’’
With the workshops held at the summit major part left out to joint detailed discussions on accessibility of industrialists to export-oriented finance and to the support of Türk Eximbank for exports. Şahin Balcıoğlu, Chairman of the Board of Directors, who delivered the opening speech at the summit on behalf of the host Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry KMTSO talked about their works within the scope of the summit to increase economic power and to export figures of the city by pointing out the huge support they received from Ankara during their works and shared his thankfulness to the officers whom supported along the way. Balcıoğlu said, ‘’Our ancient city, that stood during challenging world war and during the war for liberation in years in necessity, has become one of the most selective industrial centers of our country by managing hard work in the passing 98 years. Having a reputation as the masters of the War of Independence, the city, with its integrated factories has marked its name in the history with its golden signature as an economy trend-setter as well.
‘’The City to Convert Incentives to Investments by 100%’’
We are talking about a single city that has transformed all of its incentives by 100% to an investment without wasting any single amount. Furthermore, we may also talk about a single province that carries out all of its investments and invest in that it has accumulated in years for the benefit of the nation instead of using its investment power for its own interest. Kahramanmaraş gross national product reaching to 40 billion liras and 40 % of it’s carried by industrial sector. Indeed, the city has a total trade volume of 43 billion TL and its companies’ overall size of assets accountable for 50 billion TL. These figures are all owned by the city industrialists and their own earning’s which they accumulated in years and in which they build their own success. The city itself exports to 140 countries with its 1.3 billion dollar export power and making an export move with a success. Our industrialists employ 170 thousand personnel. Besides, they could allocate no more than 5 billion dollar for industrial production for their integration. The city alone carry out 36% of the cotton yarn, 10% of the exports, 8% of employment, 36% of the cotton yarn production, 37% of the denim production, 15% of the weaving and textile goods and fabrics, 15% of the knitting and textile goods and fabrics production in the Turkish textile industry. We have a capacity of achieving 60% production in metal kitchenware. The city itself makes up 60% of production, 45% of exports and 60% of employment in kitchenware.
‘’We Have 18 Different Geography-Based Indicators’’
President Balcıoğlu ended his speech with the following by sharing his thankfulness to all of the participants, ‘’We ranked second in Turkey in jewelry and women's shoes production and in gold production in our city right after Istanbul Grand Bazaar since we follow them in the process of gold domestically. We ranked as second in jewellery product segment and again second in women's shoes production. Besides, we are leading our nation in our energy segment with the installation of 4600megawatts of energy mill adding to our capacity in paper production by 20% and in cement production by 10%. So we are capable of housing energy to nearly 15 million spot. We have 18 different geography-based indicators.’'
