New Era at İstanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association: Mustafa Paşahan Elected as President
At the Ordinary General Assembly of the Istanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association (IHKIB), Mustafa Paşahan was elected as the new president. Paşahan, who previously served as vice chairman in the former administration, received 948 votes in the election, while his rival Timur Bozdemir received 818 votes.
Elections have been completed at IHKIB, which represents the ready-to-wear and apparel sector—one of Türkiye’s most strategic export industries—and the new president has become Mustafa Paşahan. In his speech after the election, Paşahan thanked all participants and expressed his wishes that the election results would be beneficial.
“We Will Increase the Competitiveness of Exporters”
In his speech, Paşahan delivered strong messages by emphasizing the sector’s strength in production, exports, and branding despite current challenges, and highlighted that increasing the sector’s competitiveness is one of their main goals. Paşahan said: “First of all, we will regain the competitiveness we have lost and increase the value of our sector. We see every step that will enhance the international competitiveness of our exporters as a strategic priority. We will take initiatives to expand the recognition of sales made to foreigners as exports, provided that they are declared to IHKIB. Thanks to this practice, we will contribute to enabling our exporters to benefit more from the green passport right. Our aim is to strengthen a structure that supports exporters, rewards producers, and facilitates competition. We will continue with determination to pave the way for our ready-to-wear sector and to stand by our exporters.”
Emphasizing that the ready-to-wear sector is one of Türkiye’s most critical industries, Paşahan stated: “We inspire many sectors in terms of design and branding. Behind dozens of brands, there is patience, collective wisdom, and a strong production culture. Although our sector has contracted over the past three years due to cost and exchange rate imbalances, we believe we will overcome this process in a short time. We emphasize on every platform that ready-to-wear cannot be abandoned. This sector is strong, dynamic, and has a very high capacity for recovery. We will continue working for a sector that builds a bridge between the past and the future.”
Special Structuring for SMEs
Pointing out that one of the most significant obstacles to exports is visa issues, Paşahan stated that they are continuing their initiatives at the highest level on this matter and will closely follow it in the new period. He also noted that they will implement a special structuring for SMEs, placing small and medium-sized enterprises at the center of sectoral transformation.
Stating that SMEs have a very high export potential, Paşahan said that they will establish an SME support desk for this reason.
Paşahan also added that in the new period, they will place sustainability, digitalization, and transformation at the top of the agenda and will work on financing and grant models in these areas.
