Turkish lingerie firms turn gaze to Iranian market

PARIS

Turkish lingerie firms are turning their gaze to the Iranian market to make up for shrinkages in the European market, Istanbul Readymade Clothing and Confection Exporters’ Association (İHKİB) head Hikmet Tanrıverdi has said.

Exports to Europe fell due to economic problems across the continent and the euro’s losses against the dollar, Tanrıverdi said, speaking at the Salon International De La Lingeri, a leading sector fair in Paris. 

A recent study of clustering firms conducted by the Economy Ministry focused on target markets for the underwear sector, he added. 

“Within the framework of this study, we paid our first visit to Tehran this year,” Tanrıverdi said, noting a “rising interest” in Turkish goods in the Iranian capital. 

“Turkey’s underwear exports remained constant last year, worth $807.4 million in 2015 compared to $808.6 million in 2014. But such a share of the $36 billion world market is not enough. The European market will expand again in 2016 and we aim to increase our underwear exports to $1 billion overall,” he said. 

Some 15 Turkish groups were present at the Paris fair, which hosted a total of 480 firms.