İbrahim Burkay, Chairman of the Board of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BTSO), stated that the future of the textile and apparel sector is being shaped by technology, innovation, and value-added production. Noting that the labor-intensive nature of textile and apparel has led the sector to face serious challenges in recent years, Chairman Burkay emphasized that the imbalance between high inflation and a low exchange rate has increased the sector’s burden, while rising costs and intense competition from the Far East have placed additional pressure on the industry. He also pointed out that shrinking global demand and growing geopolitical risks have further complicated this picture, making it inevitable to reassess traditional production models under current competitive conditions.
Despite these challenges, Burkay underlined that there is no reason for pessimism. “Türkiye has a strong infrastructure in textiles and apparel, flexible production capabilities, and significant export experience. However, the way to preserve this strength lies in highquality production, innovation, and a shift toward high value-added fields,” he said. Burkay highlighted technical, functional, and sustainable textiles as key areas offering an important pathway forward for the sector.
BUTEKOM plays a critical role Chairman Burkay stressed that structural reforms aimed at strengthening the sector’s competitiveness are of critical importance, adding that access to finance, export incentives, and production-supporting policies need to be reconsidered in line with today’s needs. He noted that investments focused
on value added and technological content will represent the sector’s main area of momentum in the coming period. Stating that BTSO stands alongside companies throughout this transformation process, Burkay emphasized that the centers of excellence operating under
BUTEKOM provide strategic contributions to the sector. “From R&D to testing and prototyping, from certification to innovative product development, BUTEKOM plays a vital role in supporting our companies on their transformation journey. This structure is a powerful lever that enhances the value-added production capacity of our textile sector,” he said. Concluding his remarks, Chairman Burkay underlined that textiles and app
arel are strategic sectors not only in terms of exports and employment, but also for the transformation capacity of Türkiye’s industry, adding that BTSO will continue its support and projects in this field with determination.
