As one of the most influential events for the textile and garment machinery sector, Garment Tech Istanbul 2025 not only showcases technological excellence but also acts as a crucial platform for sectoral solidarity and advocacy in Türkiye’s ready-wear and apparel industry.
Haluk Akın, Chairman of KOMİD (Confederation of Apparel Automation Machinery Manufacturers), emphasized the strategic importance of this exhibition in supporting local producers and safeguarding one of Türkiye’s largest employment-generating sectors. “Our textile and garment industry represents the backbone of our national economy, with over 1 million jobs and $50 billion in production,” he noted.
Despite a strong export performance reaching $17.9 billion in 2024, Akın warned of deep-rooted challenges facing manufacturers—rising costs, limited access to financing, and the lack of effective public support mechanisms. He also highlighted the alarming shift of production operations to countries like Egypt, leading to the closure of nearly 1,500 textile and apparel companies in recent years and the loss of more than 85,000 jobs.
“Garment Tech Istanbul is more than a trade show. It is a symbol of resistance and resilience,” Akın stated. “We urge the government to implement stronger support frameworks—financial aid, tax incentives, export bonuses, and investment-friendly policies—to help our manufacturers breathe again.”
The exhibition, he concluded, not only connects international buyers and suppliers, but also strengthens unity across the sector. It is this spirit of collective action that Garment Tech Istanbul 2025 proudly champions.
