Turkish Garment Exports To Middle East Rises, Designers Show Off Collections
Exports of Turkish ready-to-wear garments to the Middle East increased by 25 percent in 2004, according to a report released by the Turkish government.In an effort to capitalize on this demand, Turkey’s fashion houses used the Made In Turkey exhibition, held in June in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to launch exclusive collections designed for the Middle East market at daily fashion shows.Pentek’s Tekstil, a Turkish clothing manufacturer, launched a new range of Voltag brand t-shirts created specially for the exhibition.“We currently export 30 percent to 40 percent of our goods to the Middle East and demand keeps rising,”said Mehmet Aydogdu, Pentek’s chairman.“This region is proving very lucrative for us.”In addition to textiles, Made in Turkey featured exhibitors from the construction, furniture and machinerysectors.Made in Turkey was organized by the Turkish Government, who is pursuing a free-trade agreement with the Gulf countries.“We aim to increase trade volumes with the Gulf region to [a level that] equals to 30 percent of its total foreign trade,”said Harun Kocak, a representative from Turkey’s commercial attaché to the UAE.
July/August 2005