VDMA: Ever closer partnership with Turkey

At the recent International Izmir Textile & Apparel Symposium (IITAS) in October 2007, the German textile machinery industry reported a very promising export trade with Turkey. In the first half of 2007 the exports to Turkey increased by 63% compared to the respective period in 2006. “From January to July textile machinery and accessories worth 172 million Euro were shipped to Turkey which made the country our second biggest export destination”, explained Thomas Waldmann, Managing Director of the VDMA Textile Machinery Association in Frankfurt.

The export increase of the first six months of 2007 was mainly driven by the high demand for spinning machinery. Exports of spinning machinery rose by 213% to 105 million Euro. With 29.4% the second biggest plus was realized in exports of knitting, hosiery and similar machinery that summed up to 36 million. Exports of finishing machinery inclusive washing and bleaching and dyeing technologies reached 20 million Euro (plus 16.3%). Only the exports of weaving machinery performed weaker than in the first half of 2006 and reached 11 million Euro (minus 45%).

The relations between the VDMA Textile Machinery Association and its Turkish partners were further deepened over the last years. With financial support of the VDMA, the Izmir based Department of Textile Engineering of Ege University has completed the renovation of a class room, equipped with new facilities including computers and data show systems.

“The Textile Department of Ege University is our partner in Turkey since many years. We are glad that we can rely on the advise of the department’s staff regarding our activities in the Turkish market. I am sure our member companies will benefit again from the IITAS, thanks to the excellent organisation of Ege University,” Waldmann concluded.

The next milestone for VDMA’s activities in Turkey will be a symposium of the German textile machinery industry next March in Istanbul to be held with support of the German Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.