Turkish Ministry of Economy, Turkish Ministry of Development, Serhat Development Agency (SERKA), Reliable Sustainable and Environmentally Responsible Production Association (GUCDER) and Amsterdam Municipality came together to start the project “21st Century New Production Zone in Textile: Production Zone Responsible for Human and Environment”, one of the most comprehensive economic movements in the textile industry with the cooperation of public and private sector in Turkey.
Environmentally friendly production
Development Minister CevdetYilmaz attended presentation of the project at a meeting held in Istanbul. The project launched with the idea of “sustainable life” responsibility, targets to make Anatolia a hub of responsible production for human and environment in textiles starting with Igdir, Agri, Kars and Ardahan provinces. The first step of the project was realized with Denim Factory built for FGTekstil of FG Group with an investment of 2 million investment which will be followed by Fuga and Tiğer Hill of the same group projected to buy 100 Euro-products for the world markets from their Igdir factory by 2017. Gaining the fame of the first human and environmentally friendly denim production base of the world with FGTekstil’s investments, Igdir city has already started to market made in Igdir labeled products.
The project, which aims to make Turkey a production base responsible for human and environment, will contribute to the prestige and image of “Made in Turkey” origin worldwide. Speaking at the meeting FuatGozacan, Chairman of the Board of FG Group, said, “Turkey has been progressing to build up international brands in all fields. This progress will end up with adding value on Turkey’s textile industry for ‘Made in Turkey’ products, too. The better thing is that we take pride of having the first production responsible for human and environment in the world. Human and environment concepts are the most important factors for prestigious brands of the world. We now add ‘made in Turkey’ feature in addition to these sought after features as being human and environmentally friendly.”
New employment areas
Gozacan stated that the project would initially cover the provinces as Igdir, Agri, Kars and Ardahan adding that the production centers would be set up in these regions would provide employment for 4,500 heads. He also explained that each city would be the main production center for different products, FuatGozacan, Chairman of the Board of GUCDER and FG Group, added, “It is planned that those investors who will invest in Igdir, Kars, Ardahan and Agri provinces would be supported with 10 year-incentives and with 90% tax exemption with a 40% investment contribution.”
Women’s employment to increase
Gozacan pointed out that the project would be one of the most comprehensive public and private sector cooperation projects adding that another task of the project was social responsibility. “The contribution of women to economy and production supports the development of the region on the one hand our people employed at contemporary conditions contribute to sustainability standards and economy and peace. With the standards we will set a company will save 48% water, 68% steam, 57% electricity and 57% time. We will make green production possible with these standards and open the gate of sustainable production.”
Competitive price against Far East
The project covers the idea and conditions of producing at contemporary conditions at most reasonable prices to reduce the costs to minimum level which leads the way to offer at most competitive prices in international arena.
Each city will be the base for different product groups: Igdir will be the center of denim because of its nature with agriculture-rich economy while Kars will be specialized in non-denim fabric and product manufacturing because Kars is famous for animals and livestock. Agri will be the production and supply base for combed cotton and tricots because the economy of the city has great capacity of agriculture and stockbreeding. The income level of the city is very low and it was listed among the most priority zones to be developed. Ardahan is planned to be the center of knitting products. The city is good at agriculture and stockbreeding but not good at industrial production or tourism. The project will contribute to the economy of the city a lot.
