In the face of long-accumulated structural problems in Türkiye’s textile sector, the recently rising discourse around “investing in Egypt” points not so much to the production of solutions as to the normalization of a form of sectoral surrender. Statements made by leading figures of the industry amid rising costs, declining profitability, and weakening competitiveness reveal not only changing investment tendencies but also a growing sense of pessimism regarding the future of production in Türkiye.
Contacts held during the visits of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Saudi Arabia and Egypt brought the foreign investment agenda of the Turkish business community into sharper focus. Following these visits, Egypt began to be voiced more loudly as a new production hub, particularly for apparel and other labor-intensive sectors. However, the debate has increasingly centered not on the existence of these investments, but on the language and message through which they are presented.
What Does the Phrase “Those Who Go Win” Really Declare?
In his statements regarding Turkish investments in Egypt, Mustafa Denizer, Chairman of the DEİK Türkiye–Egypt Business Council, emphasizes that around 1,500 Turkish companies operate in Egypt, with total investment volume approaching USD 4 billion and approximately USD 500 million in new investment added each year. According to Denizer, this picture is no longer limited to textiles and apparel alone, but extends across a wide range of sectors from glass and ceramics to tourism and manufacturing.
Denizer also describes the process as a success story, noting that Egyptian banks are now actively courting Turkish investors and that two major sock manufacturers are preparing to invest in Egypt. However, criticism from within the sector intensifies precisely at this point:
While this narrative may be rational from the perspective of individual companies, it entirely sidelines the question of why production in Türkiye has become unsustainable.
Egypt Is Discussed, Türkiye Is Not
Ahmet Öksüz, President of the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (İTHİB), also states that it should not be considered surprising for companies unable to meet price levels due to rising labor costs to establish facilities in Egypt. While referring to a regional production strategy encompassing North Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans, Öksüz stresses that “the important thing is to do this without shutting down Türkiye.”
Critics, however, argue that this approach remains insufficient. The phrase “not shutting down Türkiye” does not offer a concrete roadmap for how production can actually be sustained within the country. While rising costs, financing burdens, and low profitability are acknowledged, no clear framework is presented on how these conditions can be reversed.
Individual Exits, Sector-Wide Silence
According to critics, the language used by sector representatives when describing the investment climate in Egypt highlights individual survival stories while pushing the responsibility of producing solutions for the sector as a whole into the background. The “those who go win” approach may hold true for some firms in the short term; however, as this discourse becomes more widespread, the perception that it is no longer possible to win through production in Türkiye risks becoming permanent. Experts warn that this affects not only today’s investment decisions but also the direction of young industrialists, new ventures, and long-term planning.
Problems Are Not Solved, They Are Relocated
The point on which critics converge is clear: investments made in Egypt, Tunisia, or other countries do not solve the problems of Türkiye’s textile sector; they merely postpone them by changing geography. While Egypt may offer advantages today, it appears inevitable that the same cycle will repeat once another country offers even lower costs tomorrow. For this reason, a question is being raised more loudly within the sector: “Why is it no longer possible to win in Türkiye?”
This Is Where the Real Debate Should Begin
According to critics, what the textile sector needs is not the polishing of new investment routes, but an open discussion on why production in Türkiye has become unsustainable. Without placing value-added production, efficiency, cost structures, and industrial policy on the table, moving forward solely with the “those who go win” narrative represents not a solution, but a withdrawal from responsibility for the sector’s future.
