ÜLKEMİZDE VE KAHRAMANMARAŞ İLİNDE TEKSTİL KONFEKSİYON SEKTÖRÜ, SORUNLARI, ÇÖZÜM ÖNERİLERİ

Textiles and apparel industry has a strategic importance and place in the Turkish economy. Textiles and apparel sector is the locomotive sector of the country with annual production of more than 20 Billion Dollars, with domestic consumption of 14 Billion Dollars and with export of more than 10 Billion Dollars (except for the suit-case trade). The sector has a share of around 4.2 % in GNP, 14.2 % in industrial output, 16.3 % in the production of manufacturing sector and 10.3 % in the total employment. There has been an increase in the use of capacity in the textiles and apparel industry with a machinery park increasing to 5.7 billion spindles and 418.2 thousand rotors in 1988 from 1.2 billion spindles in 1970 in Turkey. In particular, after the Agreement of the Customs Union with the European Union (EU) and with the expectation of export increases by the removal of goats, there has been an intense modernization and new investments in the sector starting from 1995. Capacity has also been considerably increased. Turkey ranks first among the countries which has the new investments in the textiles sector for the period 1995-1997. Transformation and development in the country after 1980 can be seen in the city of Kahramanmaraş. With the extraordinary efforts of the entrepreneur, investment mobilization has been started and ‘Miracle of Kahramanmaraş’ has been created. While Kahramanmaraş was basically an agricultural city until 10 years ago, today it is an industrial city with the progress particularly in the textiles sector, producing more than 29 %, 6.6 % and 20 % of total yarn, weaving and knitting production respectively in Turkey. Major problems of the textiles and apparel sectors are the deficiencies related to the “fashion creation” with over capacity in the cotton yarn, the development of original designs, and penetration into the new markets, especially U.S.A.. Moreover, competition in the EU market has increased as a result of increase in textiles and apparel exports from China and Hong-Kong which have cost advantages. In order to eliminate the over capacity and enter into the new markets, in addition to the existing markets, possibilities for the new markets should be investigated by emphasizing designing, collection type production and marketing activities. It is necessary to consider developing countries such as China and India not only as competitors but also potential markets. Furthermore, other problems of the textiles and apparel sector are high cost of inputs, unproductively in firms, lack of the educated personal, reputation in the markets, lack of brands and designs, inadequate presentation and promotion activities, under development of product marketing and delivery channels, less importance is given to foreign fairs and exhibitions, lack of utilization of internet and R & D activities. On the other hand, in order to get out of the economic crisis which has influenced all sectors in the country, reassurance of the public confidence, taking necessary steps which refresh the markets, activation of the cost controls, running an effective financial support mechanism will be secured by the prevention of import which depend upon mis-declaration. However, it must be known that returning to the balance of the 1990s is not the way out. It is not possible to turn back to the circumstances which have a high inflation, pattern of heavy borrowing and an economic environment which is often broken by the economic crisis. Other important advantage is a ‘very competitive’ exchange rate which has been introduced in the last economic stabilization program. In this line, sustainable growth will be quickly achieved. It should not be forgotten that most important factors, which contribute to get out of economic crises, are political stability and credibility in international economic relations.