The shoe industry, which exports to 70 countries, makes use of 340 million pairs of its 550 million pairs production capacity.
Attending the 14th Eksposhoes Shoe Saddlery and Fashion Fair held in Antalya this year, Turkish Shoe Industry Association President Berke Icten said that they closed last year with an export of $1.2 billion and that they continue on the road with an increase this year.
Noting that they increased their exports by 20% in the first quarter of the year compared to the same period of the previous year, Icten said, “We have achieved a figure of $392 million in the first quarter of the year. We are heading towards a record compared to previous years. Hopefully this process continues. We foresee that we will close the year at the level of $1.4 billion.”
Stating that the fairs organized in the country and abroad contributed significantly to exports, Icten stated that for this reason, they tried to bring together the manufacturers with foreign buyers.
Expressing that Turkiye has an important global potential in shoe production, Icten continued as follows:
“We are the sixth largest production center in the world in the shoe industry. We are the largest production point in Europe with an annual production capacity of 550 million pairs. Our shoe industry continues on its way by renewing itself especially with the increasing demand during the pandemic period. We export to nearly 70 countries, among which European Union countries come first, followed by Russia, Ukraine and Central Asian countries. We are an industry that uses 340 million pairs of our production capacity of 550 million pairs with exports.”
“Global brands started to produce in Turkiye”
Stating that Turkiye has a very serious production capacity, especially in leather shoes, Icten said that they compete with countries such as Spain and Portugal, which are assertive in this regard.
Expressing that countries such as India and China also have large production capacities, Icten stated that Turkiye is much better in terms of quality and that they are in a competitive position in terms of price.
Expressing that Turkiye attracts investors in the shoe industry, Icten said, “We are assertive in leather shoes. There have been serious developments in sports shoes in recent years. Important and global brands are investing in Turkiye, which is a pleasing development for us.”
Pointing out that nearly 300,000 jobs are provided in the sector, Icten said that they are a sector that provides indirect or direct employment to a population of approximately 2 million with their sub-industry.
Emphasizing that the shoe industry has a clear path, Icten said:
“We are very close to the markets in Europe. Considering that the shoe trade volume of approximately $60 billion is returning at a distance of 3.5-4 hours by plane, our export of $1.4-1.5 billion is actually an indicator of how far we are on the road. We have things to do, we have expectations from the state, and if we realize these, it is possible to reach exports of $4-5 billion in a very short time.”
“We organize 2 fairs a year as part of the summer and winter seasons”
Erkan Demir, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EKS Fairs, who organizes Eksposhoes Shoe Saddlery and Fashion Fair in Antalya, said that the manufacturers they brought together with foreign buyers through the fairs they organized enabled them to take a step towards export.
Pointing out that the sector is assertive in the world, Demir said, “We organize 2 fairs a year within the scope of the summer and winter seasons. Fairs for exportation. Each of them contributes approximately $80 million to the shoe industry.”
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz