Flag Change in Textile Unions Across Türkiye

From the Aegean to Istanbul, from Bursa to Denizli… The election marathon in the textile sector has been completed, and a new period has begun. The election process in exporter unions and sector associations in Türkiye’s textile and ready-to-wear sector has largely been completed. While presidential duties have changed hands in the most critical institutions of the sector, the agendas of the new administrations have highlighted value-added production, sustainability, digitalization, and access to finance.

The elections, held under the shadow of post-pandemic global contraction, increasing costs, and competitive pressure, also revealed that the sector is in search of a new roadmap.

Şişman Era in İTHİB: This Is Not Just a Flag Change

Ahmet Şişman was elected as the president of the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (İTHİB). In the election held with a single list, Şişman, who received strong support from the members, stated that they do not see the new period merely as a change of duty; “This process is also a process of continuity and unity of strength.” he said.

Drawing attention to the current challenges of the sector, Şişman emphasized that strengthening the position in the European market and increasing value-added production are priority targets. Ahmet Öksüz, who handed over the duty, reminded that during his term, they increased the international visibility of the sector with 68 fairs and 58 trade delegations.

Emphasis on Competitiveness from Paşahan

In the election held at the Istanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association (İHKİB), Mustafa Paşahan was elected president with 948 votes, while Dr. Timur Bozdemir received 818 votes.

Paşahan stated that the sector has struggled in recent years due to exchange rate-cost imbalance and said, “We must regain the competitiveness we lost.” He expressed that steps to increase the international competitiveness of exporters will be prioritized in the new period, and announced that special support mechanisms for SMEs will be established and initiatives to solve visa problems will continue.

Message of Value-Added Export from İHİB President Topak

At the Istanbul Carpet Exporters’ Association (İHİB), Faik Topak was elected president, while Ahmet Hayri Diler handed over his duties. Diler emphasized that during his term, they made Türkiye one of the centers of carpet trade again, with organizations such as the International Carpet and Flooring Expo.

The new president Topak, said, “This is a flag race.” and underlined that the sector should now focus not only on production but also on value-added export. Topak stated that design, branding, and digitalization will be the main topics of the new period.

Eskinazi Era Ends in the Aegean

Jak Eskinazi, who served as president for 8 years in the Aegean Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (ETHİB) and also as the EIB Coordinator President, bid farewell to his duty as he could not be a candidate again due to the regulation.

In his speech at the general assembly, Eskinazi drew attention to sustainability and recycling projects and stated that especially the works carried out in Uşak are exemplary for Türkiye. Referring also to projects aimed at improving the quality of education in textile engineering, Eskinazi said, “I believe that the new teams who will take over this flag will carry it further.”

Turan Göksan, who entered the election as the sole candidate and was elected as the new president of ETHİB, drew attention to the financing problem and said that they will establish stronger collaborations with banks, inform members more effectively about state support, and accelerate green transformation and artificial intelligence projects.

Bağcı Will Focus on Vocational Education and Digital Transformation

Çağlar Bağcı was elected president at the Aegean Apparel Exporters’ Association (EHKİB). Burak Sertbaş, who served during the 2018–2026 period, handed over his duty. Sertbaş stated that during his term they organized 26 international fairs with the participation of 563 companies and that exports were made to 163 countries in 2025.

The new president Bağcı emphasized the strong structure of the sector and said, “The ready-to-wear sector is a net exporter and a value-producing sector.” It was stated that in the new period, studies will be carried out in a wide range from vocational education to artificial intelligence, from sustainability to digital transformation.

UTİB President İhsan İpeker: We Will Be Game Makers

At the Uludağ Textile Exporters’ Association (UTİB), 8-year president Pınar Taşdelen Engin handed over her duty to İhsan İpeker. Engin stated that despite difficult global conditions, the sector reached 9.4 billion dollars of exports in 2025 and that UTİB’s exports rose to 1.22 billion dollars.

İpeker emphasized transformation in the new period and said, “Textile now means not only production but sustainable and value-added production. We will not be followers of this transformation but game makers.”

Özkarakaşlı Era in UHKİB

As a result of the election held at the Uludağ Apparel Exporters’ Association (UHKİB), Haluk Özkarakaşlı was elected president. It was stated that the new management aims to advance the sector especially in the areas of design, branding, and value-added production, while strengthening exports and accelerating expansion into new markets are among the priority topics.

The new management, drawing attention to the transformation process of the ready-to-wear sector, emphasized that projects in the axis of sustainability and digitalization will be increased.

Halil Erdoğan Becomes the New President in DETGİS

Halil Erdoğan was elected president at the Denizli Textile and Apparel Industrialists’ Association (DETGİS). In the election with two candidates, Erdoğan received 68 votes, while Atilla Özdemir received 44 votes.

Mukaddes Başkaya, who handed over the duty, stated that they served during difficult processes such as the pandemic, wars, earthquakes, and high inflation, and expressed that the sector went through serious tests. In the new period, solutions to the structural problems of the sector are expected.

Akcan Era in GATHİB: Southeast Enters the Field Strongly

After the elective general assembly held at the Southeastern Anatolia Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (GATHİB), Mete Akcan was elected president. Ahmet Fikret Kileci, who served for 8 years, handed over his duty.

Akcan, who took office unanimously in the elections held in the GAİB service building, stated that they will focus on increasing the competitiveness of the sector in the new period and gave the message, “By acting in unity and solidarity, we will carry the production and export power of our region further.”

It is known that GATHİB, with more than approximately 12 thousand members, plays a critical role in Türkiye’s textile exports and is one of the strongest actors of the sector with exports exceeding 3 billion dollars annually. In the new period, the union is expected to proceed with strategies aimed at sustainable export increase, expansion into new markets, and increasing the competitiveness of companies.

Common Agenda: Transformation, Competitiveness, and Sustainability

The elections held across Türkiye showed that the sector is shaping around a common vision in the new period. The prominent topics in the statements of the new administrations are listed as increasing value-added production, accelerating sustainability and green transformation processes, spreading digitalization and artificial intelligence applications, facilitating access to finance, and strengthening global competitiveness again. Within this framework, the sector aims to transform not only with its production capacity but also into a structure that is high-value-added, innovative, and sustainable.

It is foreseen that the upcoming election process within the body of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) will carry this wave of change to the upper structure and contribute to the sector moving forward with a more holistic, coordinated, and strong vision in the new period.