As part of the anniversary programme, TGSD Board Members and association members visited Anıtkabir and laid a wreath at Atatürk’s mausoleum. In his message written in the Anıtkabir Memorial Book, TGSD Co-Chair Dr Ümit Özüren emphasised that production, industrialisation and economic strength are among the fundamental pillars of independence. In his message, Özüren also highlighted the importance of transforming industry into a more competitive, sustainable and qualified structure, stating that they aim to strengthen the “Türkiye Brand” through design, innovation, knowledge and entrepreneurship.
“We must protect our production infrastructure”
Speaking at the TGSD 50th Year Gathering, TGSD Co-Chair Toygar Narbay stated that Türkiye needs to correctly interpret the changes taking place in global manufacturing balances. Emphasising that TGSD’s half-century history represents a transformation story shaped by production, exports, quality, speed, fashion and design, Narbay said that the sector must move towards a structure with higher added value in the new era. Drawing attention to the decline in the share of goods exports within national income, Narbay stressed that labour-intensive industries should not be pushed aside, but instead strengthened through efficiency, technology, design and branding.
Europe’s lost production balance
Referring to examples from Europe and China during his speech, Narbay stated that Europe’s long-standing shift of production capacity to third countries has today resulted in problems related to technological development, employment and supply chains. He noted that China, on the other hand, has built high technology and innovation capacity without excluding low- and medium-technology manufacturing from the system. Narbay underlined that protecting the production ecosystem is decisive for long-term growth and added that the apparel industry holds strategic importance due to its high employment, export and added-value creation capacity.
Türkiye’s role in global orders
Narbay stated that the transformation taking place in global supply chains is creating new opportunities for Türkiye, adding that the Turkish apparel industry is currently the world’s second largest supply chain and the fifth largest producer. However, he noted that cost pressures are weakening competitiveness and that the loss of scale is negatively affecting digitalisation, green transformation and branding processes. Narbay also pointed out that geopolitical developments, logistics costs and the need for rapid delivery could once again position Türkiye as a strong manufacturing hub, stressing that production capacity and qualified labour must be preserved in order to make this process sustainable.
TGSD’s roadmap extending to 2040
During the meeting, TGSD also shared its 2026-2040 Sectoral Strategic Roadmap. According to the roadmap, the 2026-2028 period is defined as “stabilisation”, 2028-2034 as “change and transformation”, and 2034-2040 as a phase of “high added-value production centred on the Türkiye Brand”. Narbay stated that the initial stage aims to repair deteriorated balance sheets and prepare companies for transformation, while the following period focuses on building a new structure based on high added-value production, digitalisation, sustainability, branding and market diversification.
Exports reached 5.3 billion dollars in the first four months
According to figures shared by TGSD, Turkish apparel exports declined by 1.34 percent in the first four months of the year compared to the same period last year, reaching 5.3 billion dollars. During the same period, imports increased by 2 percent to 1.05 billion dollars, while textile and raw material exports fell by 1.8 percent. Pointing out that cost pressures continue across the sector, Narbay announced that 853 companies ceased operations in the first two months of the year, while 85 firms declared concordat in the first quarter. It was also stated that employment losses in the apparel and textile sectors reached 8,204 people within the first two months.
Support expectations remain on the agenda
Narbay stated that expectations for support measures continue in areas such as exchange rate conversion support, Credit Guarantee Fund backing for Eximbank guarantees, regulations on rediscount interest rates, reducing raw material costs and facilitating Inward Processing Regime procedures. He added that 2026 could become not only a year in which current losses are balanced, but also the beginning of a new positioning period for the Turkish apparel industry. According to Narbay, with the right economic policies, the sector may begin to recover in the second half of the year.
