750 Million Dollars Export From Giyimkent
The occupancy rate in Giyimkent, which is both a production and distribution center for wholesale textiles in Istanbul and is among the exemplary cluster projects in textiles with over 3 thousand members, has reached 100%. Muzaffer Cevizli, Chairman of the Board of the Giyimkent announced that the annual exports of the region have reached 750 million dollars.
Muzaffer Cevizli stated that the headquarters of LC Waikiki, which has signed an export of 1.1 billion dollars, is also located in the region, and that the region has an annual export of 750 million dollars when the company in question is excluded. Speaking at the meeting held on the evaluation of the textile and apparel sector and the latest situation in Giyimkent, Cevizli defined the region as the place where the heart of the textile industry beats in Turkiye and said that it occupies an important position in both export and domestic markets. Stating that the reason for this is that the production centers prefer the region for their sales offices and therefore they have become an important marketing and sales area, Cevizli said, “There are approximately 3 thousand workplaces in Giyimkent, which is built on an area of 496 thousand square meters. The occupancy rate is 100%. Companies producing in Istanbul and Anatolia prefer this place for their export offices. In particular, exports are made to 105 countries such as the Middle East, Europe, Balkan Countries and Turkic Republics and even South Africa.”
Total Exports with LCW 2 Billion Dollars
Sharing the slogan “Wherever you produce in Turkiye, let Giyimkent be the place where you will sell”, Cevizli said, “Labor costs are higher in Istanbul compared to Anatolia. For this reason, while the production bases were moved to Anatolia, we determined Giyimkent as a base to reach abroad more easily and quickly. We bring procurement delegations from abroad here and bring them together with companies. With the effect of all these developments, 750 million dollars of annual exports are carried out by our regional companies. LC Waikiki is also located in our region. When its exports are included, this figure reaches 2 billion dollars.”
In his speech, in which he also touched on the problems experienced in the sector, Cevizli stated that there has been a contraction in the sector due to the recent increase in energy and labor costs, and said that the sector will return to its old days in 2025. Stating that there are companies that have opened production facilities in countries such as Egypt in the period we have left behind due to increasing costs, Cevizli said, “We have one or two companies that go to Egypt for production from Giyimkent, but it does not seem possible for them to catch the quality and fashion here in the short term. Turkiye should create global companies to compete. Production can also be made abroad, but a third way can be followed, such as exporting the produced product through Turkiye.”
Setting Up Tents for Surplus Products for Export
In order not to bear stock costs and to support the fight against inflation, a “discount tent” has been established in the region, and this service will continue in 2025. Muzaffer Cevizli said, “When demand is stagnant, there is an export surplus. And our companies cannot evaluate these products during these periods due to the recession. To melt the export surplus, we are setting up a discount tent on an area of 830 square meters in Giyimkent to support consumers to shop under more favorable conditions. The products of many brands, both international and local, meet with consumers with discounts that will cause losses here.” Regarding the effects of the contraction in demand, Cevizli said, “There is a contraction in both domestic and foreign markets. It is impossible for us not to be affected by this. While there is a 15% contraction in the domestic market, this rate is at the level of 10% abroad. In the suitcase trade, the rate of decline is up to 80%.”
