13th MUSIAD International Trade Fair represents a great opportunity to meet businessmen in this sector not only from Turkey but also from different countries all over the world.

The fair program includes regular activities such as “sector-based meetings” aiming at gathering businessmen who share common interests under one roof, MUSIAD also arranges visits to some selected factories in this sector.

Taking into consideration that the 14th International Business Forum (IBF) will be held in Istanbul from the 6th to the 9th of October 2010, the potential number of visitors for the Fair is constantly growing.

The Textile and garment sector is one of the vital (even the most important) organs of the Turkish economy with its huge employment capacity and relevant export potential. The industrialization efforts of the sixties and seventies gave birth to the modern textile industry in Turkey. At the beginning, this sector operated as small workshops. In time the sector showed rapid development and during the seventies began exporting.

Turkish clothing industry is a very important sector in Turkey in terms of GNP, employment and exports. In 2002 the share of clothing exports in total exports of the country was 21.8%.Though sector has many world-wide operating large size companies, majority of the firms are small and medium sized.

Turkey’s footwear industry has developed at a rapid pace due to modern manufacturing processes, the availability of major quality raw materials, skilled workers and high design capacity. Today the Turkish footwear industry has a strong position among exporters of high quality fashion goods. Another sign of positive development is the increase in foreign investments in the sector.

It is obvious that the footwear industry is extremely dependent on the leather industry in the country. The Turkish leather sector, which has a history dating back 500 years, is today step-by-step becoming a leading center in the leather world. The Turkish leather industry, which occupies a prominent place in the Turkish economy, has been developing rapidly by combining both its technology and its historical background.

The carpet is a gift from the Turkish people to world civilization. The knotted rug, the earliest samples of which have been found in Central Asia where the Turks used to live is an art form discovered, developed and presented to the world by the Turks. In order to protect themselves from the cold of the Central Asian steppes where they used to live, the Turks invented the carpet using lamb’s wool which was abundant, and finds from Central Asia prove this. Turks have taken this art form with them and spread it wherever they have traveled.