The Ready-Made Clothing and Apparel Sector Board is establishing a production base for the sector using the clustering method. The signature and promotion meeting of the ready-made clothing basin, which is expected to provide employment for approximately 5,000 people and will be established as the Ready-made Clothing Organized Industrial Zone (HOSAB) in Şanlıurfa Organized Industrial Zone, was held on April 5, 2013, at Çırağan.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Labor and Social Security Faruk Çelik, the Chairman of the TİM Ready-made Clothing and Apparel Sector Board Ahmet Akbalık, the President of İHKİB Hikmet Tanrıverdi, Şanlıurfa Governor Celalettin Güvenç, Şanlıurfa Mayor Eşref Fakıbaba, Şanlıurfa Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also the OSB President Sabri Ertekin, the President of Uludağ Ready-Made Clothing and Apparel Exporters’ Association Şenol Şankaya, the President of the Aegean Ready-Made Clothing and Apparel Exporters’ Association Emre Kızılgüneşler, the President of Denizli Exporters’ Association Süleyman Kocasert, LASİAD Board Member Sabri Akten, and many representatives from the sector.
“Investment will pour into the region”
The Minister of Labor and Social Security Faruk Çelik, who attended the signing ceremony, emphasized the increased importance of the region and the city after the incentive package. Pointing out the need to produce medium and long-term projects for the future of Turkey, Çelik said, “Şanlıurfa is the center of GAP, the granary of agriculture, and the gateway to the Middle East. Capital is flowing here, indicating how smart a job has been done. Investment will pour into the region like rain,” he said.
Istanbul Fashion Center, Anatolian Production Center
Ahmet Akbalık, the Chairman of the TİM Ready-made Clothing and Apparel Sector Board, who organized the project, said, “We are a leading sector in exports and one of the top three sectors with the most valuable exports per kilogram, with an export price of $24 per kilogram. With this project, realized through the clustering method, we will produce A and A+ products in an environment where all kinds of sub-industry and infrastructure exist, benefiting from the opportunities of the incentive package. World brands emerge as a result of such projects,” he said.
Why Şanlıurfa?
Ahmet Akbalık stated that Şanlıurfa was chosen for reasons such as its young workforce, production infrastructure, proximity to regions where textile production is carried out, and the Middle East market. He emphasized that the advantages of the investment are the state covering the worker’s share of social security premiums for 12 years and the income tax withholding being covered by the state for 10 years based on the minimum wage.
City support is at the highest level
While Şanlıurfa Governor Celalettin Güvenç stated, “Our city is one of the most suitable cities for investment in terms of transportation, communication, and peace,” Şanlıurfa Mayor Eşref Fakıbaba said, “We will offer the most suitable environment to all investors coming to our city.” Şanlıurfa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also the OSB President Sabri Ertekin, expressed their excitement about realizing clustering with the right partners and the right method.
