İHKİB Presidential Candidate Mustafa Paşahan: "We Will Compensate for Export Losses with Cost and Visa Solutions"

Preparation for a New Era in İHKİB Elections The election process at the Istanbul Ready-to-Wear and Apparel Exporters' Association (İHKİB) has gained momentum ahead of the general assembly scheduled for April 6.
Mustafa Paşahan, who currently serves as the vice president of the association, has officially announced his candidacy for the presidency.
Paşahan presented a strategic roadmap aimed at protecting the sector's global competitiveness and driving export figures upward once again.
Export Losses and Economic Expectations Highlighting the contraction in the ready-to-wear sector over the last three years, Paşahan noted that exports fell from $21.2 billion in 2022 to approximately $16.8 billion.
He identified rising costs as the primary factor weakening the sector's competitive edge.
"If the price does not suit the customer, they will go to another country.
Our innovation, design, and integrated production power are intact, but the cost pressure must be alleviated.
If a healthy correlation is established between the exchange rate, inflation, and interest rates, the sector will recover quickly," Paşahan stated.
Visa Barriers and Trade Delegations Paşahan pointed out that visa issues faced by exporters are complicating commercial activities.
He emphasized that disruptions, particularly regarding Schengen visas, hinder both access to foreign markets and the arrival of purchasing delegations to Turkey.
He committed to working with high-level authorities to overcome these barriers and ensure smoother international trade operations.
Transformation and Digitalization for SMEs Among the projects for the new term, support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) is a top priority.
Paşahan announced the establishment of an "SME Support Desk" within the association to provide direct assistance to smaller firms.
In line with sustainability and digitalization goals, a 14,000-square-meter design and transformation center has been developed.
This facility integrates key units such as the Ekoteks laboratory, Istanbul Fashion Academy (IMA), and Fuarcılık A.Ş.
Paşahan added that they aim to increase market diversity by organizing at least 20 national participations and over 25 trade delegations within the coming year.