19th World Apparel Convention on June 24-25

This year the 19th World Apparel Convention is hosted by Turkish Clothing Industrialists Association (TGSD) in Istanbul on June 24-25. The congress is an organization of the International Apparel Federation (IAF). IAF is the highest institute of the world apparel sector which represents 130 thousand companies from 27 countries and employs 5 million people.

The World Apparel Convention is organized in Turkey this year because of the fact that TGSD Chairman Umut Oran was chosen IAF chairman in December 2002. The convention which will be organized under the name "IAF 2003 Istanbul" is very important for apparel sector.

IAF Chairman Umut Oran noted that it was a tradition for IAF conventions to be organized in the country of its chairman and said that such an organization would contribute to Istanbul's promotion and the Turkish apparel sector.

Oran, who got together with press members at a dinner, stated that fashion designers, company managers and chairmen from many countries would attend the IAF 2003 Istanbul Convention.

The convention, which will be inaugurated on June 23, 2003 at the Istanbul Hilton Hotel, will continue with panel discussions on June 24-25. The partners of the participants of the convention will be able to join organizations during which they will visit Istanbul's historic and touristic places.

Additionally, at the end of the convention, they will be able to join a study tour including Izmir, Ephesus, Kusadasi and Bodrum between June 27-29.

Oran stated that the fact that Turkey undertook IAF chairmanship would create a great opportunity to convey developments in the world apparel sector to Turkey.

He said "During my chairmanship we will work to create strategic partnerships, increase joint investments of Turkish and foreign companies and get geared toward new markets."

Oran recalled that constraints to textile trade would be lifted globally in 2005, and said:

"This chairmanship will be a chance for us to perceive threats and opportunities that will appear after 2005. I think that IAF chairmanship will be very useful for us to know all rival countries and to determine new strategies."

Oran said that Turkey had been active in apparel sector for about 20 years and that it developed relatively quickly.

He stated that the textile sector had a share of 35 percent in the Turkish economy, pointed out that Turkey ranked first among countries that met the need of textile of Europe and ranked second in the apparel sector in the world.

According to Oran, who stated that Turkish apparel sector was very successful, the biggest problem was that conditions for competitiveness were not at the same level with the other countries.

With the chairmanship of Umut Oran, Turkey became the country which undertook IAF chairmanship for the second time. Hasan Arat has worked as IAF chairman in 1996.