Stars of Leather and Leather Products Exports Awarded

Ege Deri ve Deri Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği presented awards to 30 companies in bronze, silver and gold categories at its "Export Stars" ceremony, with these firms accounting for 58 percent of the leather and leather products sector's total exports in 2022. Erkan Zandar, Chairman of Ege Deri ve Deri Mamulleri İhracatçıları Birliği, stated that the sector's exports from the Aegean Region reached USD 191.6 million in 2022, adding: "The award-winning companies generated USD 111.3 million, representing 58 percent of these exports. We congratulate all members of the leather and leather products sector. 2023 did not start easily for all our sectors and continues to be challenging. Turkey's exports of leather and leather products fell 4.7 percent in the January-October period of 2023, totalling USD 1.621 billion. The largest declines of approximately 20 percent occurred in finished leather and furs on a raw materials basis. Product-based declines could become more pronounced in the coming period. Looking at our largest export destinations in 2023, Russia has taken the top spot from Germany with a 54 percent increase. We expect increased demand from our sector to participate in Russian fairs. Declines reaching 20 percent are occurring across the European Union." Chairman Zandar continued: "In recent months, we organized a sectoral trade mission to Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is one of the important hub markets, serving as a trade center for other countries. The sectoral trade mission opened many doors for us. Participation is growing each year. In March, we will hold a joint event with Istanbul Ready-Made Clothing and Apparel Exporters' Association. We want our leather garment, saddlery and footwear companies to achieve greater returns. Our association is organizing national participation in Italy's Expo Riva Schuh & Garda Bags Fair, one of Europe and the world's most important footwear and saddlery shows. The Management Board has made substantial efforts and achieved great success in this regard since 2019. After organizing Shoedex2020, the world's first digital fair during the pandemic, we became the first Turkish leather exporters to showcase our products in the Metaverse."

Erkan Zandar concluded his remarks as follows:

"We made another first at the Expo Riva Schuh Fair by displaying our member companies' footwear products in augmented reality technology in the EIB trend area to fair visitors, and exhibited them in the EİB metaverse infrastructure with augmented reality technology. In the EİB Metaverse trend area, visitors had the opportunity to examine our products in three dimensions, 360 degrees. We are developing our augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) format and preparing new infrastructure. An event targeting the Netherlands is on our agenda for the coming period. In recent months, we participated in the footwear fair held in Gaziantep to strengthen our relationships with members. It is a region that has given importance to our sector. It has an R&D center. This month we achieved successful participation in the 'World Shoe Congress', the sector's largest international organization bringing together professionals from the global footwear industry. The best representation came from the Aegean."  

Companies Awarded in Gold Category

SEPİCİ GRUBU DERİ PAZARLAMA A.Ş. AGAMODA DERİ KONFEKSİYON SAN.TİC.A.Ş. ESKATEK DERİ SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. NARİNBEBE AYAKKABI SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ.

Companies Awarded in Silver Category

GAL GIDA TURİZM SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. GÜNDOĞDULAR DERİ SARACİYE SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. HAKEM AYAKKABI SAN.VE TİC.LTD.ŞTİ KUNTER DERİ SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. LIDER DERI URUNLERI SAN.VE TIC A.S. MARC CHANTAL DERİ TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. ON-AR AYAKKABI KALIP SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. POLLYBOOT İŞ GÜVENLİĞİ DIŞ TİCARET A.Ş. ÜLKÜCAN AYAKKABI VE AYAKKABI MALZ. SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ.

Companies Awarded in Bronze Category

ARTKIY DERİ MAM.SAN.VE TİC.LTD ŞTİ. ASORTİ AYAKKABISAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. BURRE AYAKKABI SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. DEMOD DERİ KONFEKSİYON SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. DERKİMPA DERİ SANAYİ A.Ş. DOGO TASARIM SAN.TİC.A.Ş. EPOCALE AYAKKABI DIŞ TİCARET A.Ş. FATİH ÜSTÜNDAĞ DIŞ TİCARET FMA DERİ ÜRÜNLERİ İNŞ.SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. GENÇLER DERİ MAM.SAN.TİC.A.Ş. HÇ SİMİN DIŞ TİCARET AYAKKABI SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. MURAT GÜLER GÜLER KUNDURA NEVZAT ONAY AYAKKABI SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. PENTA AYAKKABI SAN.TİC.A.Ş. SEÇKİN COMFORT AYAKKABI SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. SERAY AYAKKABI VE TERLİK SAN.TİC.LTD.ŞTİ. ZANDAR DIŞ TİCARET LTD.ŞTİ.