Turkish textile sector eyes Syria for production shift

Turkey’s textile industry should consider relocating the production facilities to Syria, chairman of the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (ITHIB), Ahmet Oksuz, suggested.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency on Sunday, Oksuz praised Syria as a promising destination for investment, particularly in the textile industry. Recalling the substantial Syrian population that has settled in Turkey in recent years, Oksuz noted, “Many of them have been employed across various sectors. Now, with their return to their homeland, establishing production facilities there would be highly beneficial for us.”

Oksuz emphasized that local production costs in Syria would be considerably lower, saying “Currently, we are facing challenges in both labor availability and costs in Turkey, particularly in labor-intensive industrial sectors. If we can seize this opportunity, I believe it could lead to substantial benefits.”

‘Syria Instead of Egypt’

Highlighting that the Turkish textile sector has increasingly focused on production in Egypt, Oksuz argued that shifting this focus to Syria could present a much more significant advantage, pointing out that regions near Turkey have the potential to become vital production hubs.