Speaking at the OTİAD Traditional Iftar Dinner, Chairman of the Board of Directors İlker Karataş pointed out that Osmanbey left 69 provinces behind in exports, including Konya, Kayseri and Eskişehir. Chairman Karataş said that after the June 7 elections, they expect the parties to strive for dialogue and reconciliation with a constructive and positive political understanding.

 Speaking at the traditional iftar dinner of Osmanbey Textile Businessmen Association (OTIAD) held at Four Sesons Hotel on June 22, 2015, President Karataş called on all segments to support the coalition government that can sustain structural reforms in line with Turkey's realities and ensure lasting peace; "If all political parties, which entered the Parliament by the will of the people, put the interests of the country above their own interests in the following process and join hands, I think we will write in history that the real winner of this election is democracy."

 Osmanbey exports more than Kayseri and Konya

 "Looking at Osmanbey's five-month export data, Karataş reminded that they exported more than 69 provinces, including Kayseri, Konya, Antalya and Eskişehir, and said: "Osmanbey's five-month export total for the period January - May 2015 is 614 million 683 thousand dollars. In the same period last year, this figure was 724 million 489 thousand dollars. Osmanbey, which is the most important wholesale shopping center of Turkey and Istanbul in textile and ready-to-wear clothing, has left behind 69 provinces in Turkey, which has 81 provinces, with this export performance. Don't misunderstand, I am not talking about the ready-to-wear exports of these provinces, I am talking about their total exports in all products.

 4 main problems of exporters

 President İlker Karataş, who also expressed his expectations from the government to be formed as the textile and ready-to-wear sector, expressed his thoughts on this issue as follows: "It is a fact that there are 4 major basic problems that hinder the ready-to-wear and textile exporters that provide an important input to the Turkish economy:  Political uncertainties, variations in foreign policy, imbalances in the exchange rate and the proliferation of bureaucratic procedures. These are important problems that concern not only our sector but all exporters and can sometimes turn into a major obstacle to exports. In addition, the markets that textile exporters have lost in the last 4 years need to be analyzed and urgent measures need to be taken to compensate for this loss."

 Iran could be a rival producer tomorrow

 At the end of his speech, İlker Karataş, President of OTİAD, referred to the projects developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Economy for the development of innovative products with high added value and the dissemination of design awareness, and reminded that especially with the amendment made in the Design Communiqué dated 2008, very important supports were offered to ready-to-wear companies to encourage them to invest in design, and said that this is a great opportunity for Osmanbey. "Let's shape the future of Osmanbey, where a design-oriented change and transformation has begun, together. Let's produce better and create more brands," Karataş said, and made a striking observation about the Iranian market. "We have all seen that the country markets we work with do not have continuity. Yesterday we were working very well with Russia, yesterday we were working very well with Syria, look at the situation of these country markets today! If I tell you that Iran, which has become one of the most attractive markets for us with the softening of the embargo, has started to buy not only ready-to-wear garments but also fabrics and textile machinery, what do you make of this? Don't be surprised if in a year or two Iran becomes not our market but a producer country that we will have to compete with."

 ITHIB President İsmail Gülle, Turkey Finance General Manager Osman Çelik, ISO President Erdal Bahçıvan and Şişli District Governor Salih Işık also emphasized unity in their short speeches and thanked OTİAD for bringing the sector together on such a meaningful night.

 Sector met at OTİAD Iftar Dinner

 OTİAD organized the 'Traditional OTİAD Iftar', which is organized every year during Ramadan, at Four Sesons Hotel under the sponsorship of Türkiye Finans, as in previous years. The iftar program, hosted by famous model Esrin Özgüler, was attended by Şişli District Governor Salih Işık, Türkiye Finans General Manager Osman Çelik, ISO President Erdal Bahçıvan, ITHIB President İsmail Gülle, Şişli Municipality Deputy Mayor Osman Korkmaz, TGSD President Şeref Fayat, OTİAD former presidents Ali Ulvi Orhan, Hüseyin Tanciğer, Gaffar Koca, LASIAD President Giyasettin Eyyüpkoca, MESİAD President Yusuf Gecü, ÇSD President Bülent İyikülah, TMHGF President Hüseyin Öztürk, TRİSAD President Mustafa Balkuv, KYSD President Osman Ege, ÖRSAD President Fikri Kurt, TTTSD President Vehbi Canpolat, BATİAD President Aydın Erten as well as OTİAD Board Members and many Osmanbey textile and apparel sector representatives attended the event.