TURKEY: 'No need to worry about textile orders lost to China’

Speaking to the Anatolia news agency in the southeastern province of Adıyaman, Örün said the Turkish textile and ready-to-wear industry will not be negatively affected by a growing tendency among buyers to choose Chinese producers over Turkish firms. "We are already a country that is successfully promoting its textile products abroad. There is no need to worry about the orders lost to China," he explained. Örün added that the Turkish textile industry has two advantages over China: geographical proximity to consumer markets and higher quality products.

Acknowledging that aggressive efforts by Chinese textile firms to dominate the global textile market had harmed the Turkish textile industry in the past, Örün said Turkish firms are now encouraged that things will be back on track. "Turkish textile manufacturers stand at a relatively more advantageous spot in global markets thanks to high quality and durable products, he said, arguing that Chinese textile products are of relatively lower quality. "

Underlining that Turkish textile products have higher added value than Chinese ones, he said Turkish firms would benefit from this once the adverse effects of the 2009 global credit crunch ease. Örün said China had concentrated on manufacturing "basic products" such as T-shirts. "But we manufacture jeans and shirts that closely follow the latest fashion trends in global markets. It is to our advantage to focus on innovative products which appeal to more customers throughout the world markets," he noted.

Underlining that mergers and conglomerations between relatively smaller-sized businesses are promoted in Turkey, he said this would, in the long run, increase both the competitive power and the profitability of companies. Örün argued that statements suggesting that Turkey should shift its focus away from textile manufacturing are meaningless. "Why give up such a huge potential?" he asked. Noting that ready-to-wear is a "labor-intensive sector," he said, "We need to encourage the establishment of new textile manufacturing facilities and employ more people."