Leadership of the textile and apparel exporters’ associations has passed to new names. Emphasizing Türkiye’s strength and strategic importance in textiles and apparel, the incoming presidents underlined the importance of unity, while also addressing key themes such as sustainability, digitalization and artificial intelligence in their remarks.
İTHİB President Ahmet Şişman: “We see this not as a handover, but as a consolidation of strength”
Following the General Assembly of the Istanbul Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (İTHİB), Ahmet Şişman—who previously served as Vice President—was elected Chair of the Board. Running as the sole candidate, Şişman secured the presidency with strong backing from members and stated that they would build on the accumulated experience of the previous term. He noted that they do not view the new period merely as a change of office, but as a process of continuity and collective strength.
Şişman wished the election results to be beneficial for the sector. In his address to the General Assembly, he drew attention to the current challenges facing the industry and emphasized that he is assuming the role with a strong sense of responsibility. He underlined that the Turkish textile industry is not only defined by its production capacity but is also a cornerstone of Türkiye’s export vision, stating: “We are fully aware of the responsibility that comes with taking on this role at a time marked by significant challenges and uncertainties.”
Outlining the roadmap for the new term, Şişman stated that their goal is not only to maintain but to enhance the sector’s competitiveness. He stressed the need to place value-added production at the center of the industry and highlighted their ambition to further strengthen Türkiye’s position in the European market. “Our objective is clear: not just to preserve but to increase our competitiveness; to place value-added production at the core of the sector; and to position Türkiye as a stronger player in the European market,” he said.
EHKİB President Çağlar Bağcı: “As long as we act together, there is no challenge we cannot overcome”
At the Aegean Apparel Exporters’ Association (EHKİB), Burak Sertbaş, who served as Chair from 2018 to 2026, handed over his role to Çağlar Bağcı. Sertbaş will serve as a Delegate to the Turkish Exporters Assembly General Assembly for the 2026–2030 term on Bağcı’s list. In his speech, President Bağcı emphasized that despite the difficult period the apparel industry is going through, it remains one of Türkiye’s most established, skilled, pioneering and resilient industries.
Defining the apparel industry as a net exporting sector that generates high added value, Bağcı continued: “Our unit export price is ten times the Türkiye average, which is the clearest indicator of our strength. I have full confidence in the sector’s experience, its potential, its ability to respond swiftly in times of crisis, and its design capabilities. And most importantly, we are a large family under this roof. This unity is our greatest source of strength. We have experience. We can act quickly. We have strong design capabilities. I firmly believe that as long as we act together, there is no challenge we cannot overcome.”
Under the leadership of Çağlar Bağcı, the Aegean fashion industry will focus over the next four years on vocational training, marketing, sustainability, design, digitalization and artificial intelligence.
ETHİB President Turan Göksan: “We will work hard as a team for our exports—and succeed”
Turan Göksan has been elected Chair of the Board of the Aegean Textile and Raw Materials Exporters’ Association (ETHİB). Jak Eskinazi, who served as Chair for the past eight years, handed over the role to Göksan and will continue to share his experience with the textile industry as a member of the ETHİB Board in the coming term. Eskinazi, who also serves as Coordinator Chair of the Aegean Exporters’ Associations, will continue in this role until the coordinator elections in May.
Göksan has served as Vice Chair of ETHİB since 2018. At 42, he stands out as the youngest chair among the heads of the 12 exporters’ associations within the Aegean Exporters’ Associations.
Speaking at the General Assembly, Göksan said: “Cotton is a key product at the beginning of our supply chain and requires greater support. We need to better inform our members about government incentives. Financing remains one of the most pressing issues, and we will strengthen our engagement with banks. We call for increased foreign exchange conversion support and employment incentives. We will continue our efforts on green transformation. We have new UR-GE project applications and are working on artificial intelligence. As a team, we will work hard for our exports—and we will succeed.”
UTİB President İhsan İpeker: “We will not only follow the transformation—we will be key drivers of it”
After serving as President for eight years, Pınar Taşdelen Engin handed over the role to İhsan İpeker at the Uludağ Textile Exporters’ Association (UTİB) Ordinary General Assembly with elections. Emphasizing continuity, unity and transformation in the new term, İpeker stated that they will build on past projects while adopting a solution-oriented approach aligned with the sector’s evolving needs. He also noted that new steps will be introduced to respond to the industry’s requirements amid global change.
İpeker stressed that the transition from traditional textiles to technical textiles, and from fast fashion to an environmentally friendly circular economy, is no longer optional. He underlined that they aim not merely to follow this transformation, but to play an active role in shaping it.
He added: “I would like to thank all our members who participated in the General Assembly. In the new term, we aim to introduce further steps that respond to the sector’s needs in the face of global change. We will work with an approach that brings forward the concerns of all our exporters—large and small alike—ensures they do not feel alone, and supports value-added production. As you know, the textile industry is not merely a field of production; it is one of the most deeply rooted legacies of Türkiye’s industrialization and a gateway to its future. However, the world no longer applauds production alone, but production that is sustainable, digital and high in added value. The transition from traditional textiles to technical textiles, and from fast fashion to a circular, environmentally friendly economy, is no longer a choice. As UTİB, we will not only follow the transformation—we will be key drivers of it.”