Strategic Direction for Textiles in Turkey
The 4th International R&D Brokerage Event in Textile and Apparel was organized in Bursa to present R&D and innovation projects and to bring together the private sector with universities. Planned by the Uludag Association of Textile Exporters (with the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry as strategic partner and Bursa, Eskisehir and Bilecik Development Agency as organization partner) the event introduced 235 projects (80 of them foreign) to the sector's professionals and academics. Minister of Economy Zafer Çaglayan and TIM President Mehmet Büyükeksi went to Bursa to take part in this event.
During his opening speech, Minister Çaglayan stressed the need to expand the proportion of high value added items to export. Indicating a “major change of mentality in the textile sector”, Minister Çaglayan announced their intention to provide a new incentive system to support production of high value-added and high technology items.
Mr.Büyükeksi shared in comments his pleasure to be in Bursa, saying, "Bursa is one of the oldest cities of Anatolia and literally a trademark. Bursa is synonymous with green, Mt.Uludag, the cable car, chestnuts, "iskender” kebab and peaches. Bursa is thought of as a city that is an innovative brand.” Mr.Büyükeksi emphasized that in addition, Bursa is recognized for the this R&D Brokerage Event, as a pioneer in this area for the rest of our country.
Highlighting the importance of R&D and design for our country, Mr.Büyükeksi shared that "Design, R&D and innovation are the means for the perpetuity of our country, and that innovation and R&D are requisites of creating value-added production. These design contests that will be held in 26 sectors benefit the production of original products by our exporters, their presentation to the world market, the transition to the innovation economy, sustainable economic growth, the design of innovative products and the inculcation of R&D and design culture in our economy. The R&D brokerage events are perfect to buttress the cooperation between universities and industry, and encourage the generation of new ideas/brainstorming by local/foreign academics and researchers under the same roof.
Wrapping up, Ibrahim Burkay spoke about the importance of technology production to sustaining growth. Around the world the transition from conventional textiles to high value-added technical and functional textiles is accelerating.