TİM Regional Export Meetings Continued in Gaziantep

The fifth of the TİM Regional Export Meetings was held in Gaziantep, hosted by the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Associations (GAİB).

Organized by the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM), the fifth session of the “TİM Regional Exporters' Meetings” took place in Gaziantep under the auspices of the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters Associations (GAİB). Following previous gatherings in İzmir, Trabzon, Mersin, and Bursa, this time the program brought together exporters in Gaziantep, drawing the participation of TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe, TİM Deputy Chairmen, the chairmen and executives of associations under GAİB, and numerous representatives from exporting firms.

During the meeting held at the GAİB Service Building, discussions centered on access to financial resources for regional exporters, the resolution of challenges encountered in export processes, and strategies to enhance regional export performance.-.

“Gaziantep, the Jewel of Anatolia”

In his opening address, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe commenced his speech by commending Gaziantep's remarkable achievements in exports. Gültepe stated, “Gaziantep ranks foremost among Anatolian cities in terms of Türkiye's exports, production, and employment. The city's exports exceed 10 billion dollars. I repeat this everywhere I go: every province needs a Gaziantep model. There is a powerful synergy in this city. I extend my congratulations to all those who have contributed. If each of our remaining 80 provinces were to achieve 10 billion dollars in exports, our total would reach 810 billion dollars, placing us on an entirely different level.”

In his remarks, Gültepe evaluated the exports conducted through the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Associations by sector, noting that the grain sector led with 3.4 billion dollars in exports. He indicated that the carpet sector held second place, with approximately 2 billion dollars in exports, and congratulated the carpet manufacturers from Gaziantep for leading the global machine-made carpet exports. He stated that the textile sector ranked third with 1.8 billion dollars, followed by 1.4 billion dollars in chemical exports and 670 million dollars in furniture exports.

“We Must Increase Export Growth to Double Digits”

Gültepe also noted that in the first four months of the year, the Southeastern Anatolia Exporters' Associations achieved 4 billion dollars in exports and shared the following on Türkiye's export targets:

“As exporters of Türkiye, we have set export targets of 280 billion dollars for 2025 and 375 billion dollars for 2028. Additionally, we aim for 200 billion dollars, bringing the total to 575 billion dollars. In the medium term, we are striving for Türkiye to be among the top 10 exporting countries globally. To this end, an annual growth rate of 10 percent is necessary. While the current increase in exports is commendable, it is not sufficient. We must raise growth to double digits. As Türkiye, we must remain competitive. We need to see positive signals compared to our global competitors. Since Trump's presidency in the U.S., a series of new practices and regulations have emerged. On the EU side, we are seeing improvements. In this environment, we require policies that will enhance our competitive edge. Efforts to reduce inflation below 20 percent, particularly under current conditions, are adversely affecting exporters. The lack of growth in capacity utilization across sectors and the failure to broaden the export base remain significant challenges.”

“The World is Undergoing a Profound Transformation”

GAİB Coordinator Chairman Ahmet Fikret Kileci emphasized the global shifts currently underway. Kileci remarked, “The world is undergoing a profound transformation, and this inevitably affects us as well. Based on our observations, we are being affected to a lesser extent than other countries. Of course, we are not immune, but the impact is not as severe as in developed nations. Global trade is experiencing a significant axis shift, a transformation, and change. If we have managed to reach this point under such conditions, it is a sign of our success. Therefore, we can look to the future with optimism.”

Following the opening speeches, the program continued with the “Exporters Ask” session, during which TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe and GAİB Coordinator Chairman Ahmet Fikret Kileci responded to questions from exporters. Subsequently, Eximbank General Manager Ali Güney, Türk Ticaret Bankası General Manager İlker Yeşil, and İGE AŞ General Manager Fatih Tuğrul Topaç delivered a presentation on “Financial Support for Exporters.” The program concluded with visits to factories operating in the region by TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe, accompanied by TİM and GAİB officials.