Footwear Industry Puts on Show of Strength at AYSAF

The shoe components sector, which completed 2021 with an export record despite the pandemic and entered the first quarter of 2022 with a 23 percent growth rate, held its most important meeting point "International Shoe Components Fair AYSAF", opening its doors on 1 June with over 300 companies guiding world markets and thousands of visitors. The 66th AYSAF opening was attended by sector representatives satisfied with the fair's strong interest: TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle, AYSAD Chairman Sait Salıcı, İDMİB Board Chairman Güven Karaca, AYSAF Fair Committee Chairman Göksu Tuğsuz and Artkim Fuarcılık CEO Cengiz Yaman, who announced their shared objective as "making Turkey the world's shoe components industry centre". By joining forces with the sector's umbrella organization Shoe Components Manufacturers Association AYSAD in organizing the fair, Artkim Fuarcılık, which plays an active role in developing exports in Turkey, achieved a 25 percent growth in the fair this year compared to previous years. At AYSAF, Eurasia's largest shoe components industry sector meeting, over 300 companies guiding world markets showcased their new products and technologies. The AYSAF Fair, which has provided significant contributions to exports in the shoe and components sector over the years, continues to play an active role in reaching innovative products and services to a broad audience and establishing new sectoral business connections. AYSAF offers an ideal platform for the sector to meet its needs in shoe sole systems, leather, synthetic leather, textiles, EVA, metal and plastic accessory products, chemicals, adhesives, machinery, equipment and production technologies; and will once again serve as an important bridge between manufacturers and buyers.   TİM Chairman Gülle: "In the 300 billion dollar target, the shoe sector is among our strongest players" Pointing out that developments in global trade over the past two years have paved the way for Turkey to "establish a roadmap in export leadership", Turkey Exporters Council Chairman İsmail Gülle stated: "The lockdowns and restrictions experienced with the pandemic in global trade had brought production and exports to a standstill in many sectors. We must read and evaluate the interest in our country very well. With the efforts of our export family, we target 300 billion dollars in exports in 2023. The shoe sector is one of our strongest players on this path. When we look at the size of our production and export capacity, our ability to guide the market is also noteworthy," he said, and emphasized: "The stronger the components industry, the more possible design, application, innovative product creation and making dreams come true become." İDMİB Chairman Güven Karaca: "Our components industry will support our growing exports" Istanbul Leather and Leather Products Exporters Association Board Chairman Güven Karaca, highlighting the importance of Turkey's shoe components product exports, stated: "Our components industry will support our growing exports." Noting that exports recorded 26 percent growth with USD 782 million compared to the same period last year, Karaca continued: "World trade is USD 210 million, while our exports are USD 1.73 million. Our share of world trade is just below 1 percent. We will continue our work rapidly to reach our targets by year-end and continue to make uninterrupted contributions to our country's economy with the shoe, leather goods and fur, saddlery, leather and fur clothing sectors. It is important that NGOs base their work on design and branding, e-commerce, human resources work and sustainability. Turkey will be the world's shoe components industry hub. Our main goal is to further increase our export figures as a sector in the coming periods and reach high value-added exports." AYSAD Chairman Sait Salıcı: "Our goal is to make Turkey the world's shoe components industry centre" Shoe Components Manufacturers Association Chairman Sait Salıcı, noting that AYSAF plays a critical role in Turkey's USD 3 billion shoe sector export roadmap, stated: "The test of success is whether you can export. The shoe sector, which exceeded USD 1 billion in exports in 2021 and entered the first quarter of 2022 with growth rates of 23 percent, ranks among our country's most important export players. As the sector's umbrella organization, we believe that by continuously developing our Shoe Components Fair AYSAF, where we demonstrate our strength on the international stage, we will announce our potential to the entire world with greater goals," he said. Drawing attention to the logistics and raw material problems experienced in China, which have made it difficult for shoe manufacturers in many countries around the world to access components industry products, Sait Salıcı noted: "Foreign visitors from the Middle East, North Africa, Turkic Republics, Eastern Europe and the Balkans seeking alternatives have turned their visit and purchase routes to Turkey due to geographic proximity advantage, the ability to purchase in smaller quantities, and the price-quality balance of the products. Our shoe components industry companies are extremely capable, open to technological innovations and have sufficient infrastructure and potential to meet export demand. As AYSAD, our goal is to make Turkey the world's shoe components industry centre. We are fully confident that we will carry our traditional sector to an important place in the new economy," he said. Artkim Fuarcılık CEO Cengiz Yaman: "We are ready to provide more than we can for the development of Turkey's exports" Artkim Fuarcılık CEO Cengiz Yaman, stating that they set out in 2002 to serve the Chemical Sector, which reflects the pulse of Turkish Industry, said: "With the strength we gained from the sector, the fairs we have organized through our 20 years of development and innovation-focused work have enabled sector stakeholders to open up to international markets, contributed to the development of exports and transformed into billions of dollars of business volume, contributing to the Turkish economy. We believed that this valuable cooperation with AYSAD for AYSAF would add strength to the sector's power. Today, with the intense interest we see and the feedback we receive, we see how correct a step we have taken. We aim to provide long-term communication opportunities and high brand visibility for companies, and to eliminate the disadvantage of limited time and space for visitors. In this direction, as Artkim Fuarcılık, we continue to shape the services we offer, especially in line with the changing fair industry understanding with the pandemic. At AYSAF, we offer our exhibitors and visitors a fair experience with high interaction. With the "allArtkim Mobile Application" covering all details of the fair and the "Virtual Fair" platform that will be active after the physical fair, AYSAF provides an effective and long-term communication opportunity for exhibitors and visitors," he said. AYSAF Fair Committee Chairman Göksu Tuğsuz, speaking at the opening, stated that one of the fundamental aims of AYSAF Fair is "to introduce Turkish shoe components industry to the world, increase market share and provide a competitive environment." Noting that the fair meets every need of a shoe manufacturer, Göksu Tuğsuz said: "Turkish shoe components industry, with its production quality and capability, has reached international standards and become a sector that exports to many parts of the world. The shoe components industry sector, which was the most important supporter of over USD 1 billion in shoe exports in 2021, has become a market with increasing production potential and international demand." Fashion Begins with Components AYSAF, held between 1-4 June under the motto "Fashion Begins with Components," showcases through various events and special project areas within the fair the direction and innovations that the shoe components industry brings to shoe fashion. Through the "Product Fashion Show" on the 2nd and 3rd days of the fair, 2-3 June, participating companies have the opportunity to present their products accompanied by a fashion show. At the "Ebru Workshop" in the fair's workshop area, which runs for four days, shoes are produced in different models with ebru patterns applied on leather, and shoes made from "glass" material are exhibited. In the "Trend Area" created within the fair grounds, outstanding trend products from participating companies representing the shoe components industry are presented for four days to the appreciation of sector professionals and visitors in a separate exhibition space.