Technical Textile Conversion Project Continues

Transformation Project for Technical Textiles Moving Forward The "Denizli Technical Textiles Transformation Project," financed by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey and launched in Denizli in 2020, is progressing without losing momentum. Uğur Erdoğan, Chairman of DTO, shared his views on the matter, stating that Denizli—the city that comes to mind first when towels and bathrobes are mentioned not only in Turkey but worldwide—has been experiencing very intense days related to this project for two years, drawing strength from the experience and competitive structure it possesses in home textiles, with the aim of transforming the textile sector into the technical textile sector. Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: "Denizli, which is particularly an important centre in towel and bathrobe production, meets a significant portion of the country's annual exports in this field and is recognized as the world capital in cotton textile manufacturing. We identified as our primary objectives closely following information technology and innovation, making necessary investments in R&D activities, producing higher value-added products, and thus increasing our production diversity in order to achieve better positions in exports and industry. In this way, we will ensure that the national wealth paid abroad for imports remains within the country. At the same time, we are continuously expanding our targets to make a significant contribution to the Turkish economy by creating new employment opportunities." The Denizli Technical Textiles Transformation Project (DTTD) implemented by DTO aims to transform Denizli's textile industry and gradually change the face of Turkey's textile exports. Selected from hundreds of projects in the country, the DTTD Project—one of two innovative projects sent by chambers and exchanges affiliated with TOBB and deemed worthy of support—will introduce Denizli's industry and exporters to high value-added textile products. DTO Chairman Uğur Erdoğan made the following statement on the subject: "Our Technical Textile Centre is an innovative and important initiative that will chart a new course for our industry and city, and expand our horizons. It will not only enable new products and discoveries to emerge, but will also contribute to clustering of companies operating in this field and related sectors and branches, thereby opening the way for the establishment of new companies in new business lines in our city. I can say with great pleasure even now that this project will give Denizli's textile journey new momentum, expand its product range, and in time increase the per-kilogram price value of Denizli's exports." DTO Chairman Uğur Erdoğan, who also pointed out that a significant investment has been made in the Denizli Technical Textiles Transformation Project, carried out within the scope of the "Competitive Sectors Program" implemented by the Ministry of Industry and Technology with co-financing from the European Union and the Republic of Turkey, stated: "A 1,000 square-metre area for our Technical Textile Centre was allocated to our chamber by Denizli Organized Industrial Zone. The machinery procurement, construction and installation work for our centre have been completed. As the Denizli Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with the OIZ Directorate, we have also launched a new coordinated project aimed at increasing the competitiveness of our SMEs, particularly our textile sector. In addition to this centre, a Vocational and Test Training Centre is also being established. With our Vocational Training Centre for technical textiles and textile technology being located side by side, our participating companies will be able to receive all business development, training and consulting services from a single point. We are undertaking every effort to ensure that our Denizli Technical Textile Centre continues to serve as an attraction point in the region with a sustainable structure," he explained. Prior to the project, surveys and workshops were conducted with 100 textile companies, 65 of which have SME status, to identify and optimize the needs of companies and new entrepreneurs. During the project period, advisory and steering committee meetings, stakeholder workshops and analysis of 166 companies were carried out.

DTO Chairman Erdoğan stated: "In line with the work we have done, we launched classroom and practical training for textile companies. After completing the surveys and analysis, 55 companies participated in the workshop we organized. We continued to make constant announcements regarding the project's launch at the introduction meetings we held and the platforms we attended, and we saw that interest increased day by day. At the end of the project, our goals—including the establishment of our Denizli Technical Textile Centre and at least 50 companies benefiting from this centre, providing business development support on technical textiles to 100 companies or entrepreneurs, 30 companies increasing their sales and/or exports and reducing all input costs including energy, at least 5 new companies being established and creating new employment—continue to excite our textile companies and all stakeholders who contributed to the project. At the same time, we will also create the Denizli Technical Textile Cluster (DTTK)," he said.

Technology transformation leaders in the textile sector will emerge from Denizli

Noting that their projects have set a precedent in Denizli, Erdoğan emphasized the importance of their project by saying: "Our Turkey is set to have a say in the world league with the technical textile sector. Because, as all parties involved well know, with this project of ours, our successes in the textile sector will be carried to even greater heights through the united effort and belief of companies that will be known as technology transformation leaders in the future. And I would like to underline once more that the technology transformation leaders of the textile sector will fortunately emerge first from Denizli," he concluded.