Exporters to set targets at general assembly meeting

Exporters will hold their 2023 ordinary general assemblies in April. At the general assemblies, each union will address the steps to be taken in our Republic's second century while also adopting 2024 budgets and work programmes. Some 120,000 exporters operating under the roof of 61 exporter unions, who earned Turkey USD 255.8 billion in foreign currency in 2023—the centenary year of our Republic—are heading to general assemblies to determine the targets for our Republic's second century. The management boards of the 61 exporter unions that took office in the April 2022 elections will explain to general assembly members how many of the targets they set during their two-year tenure have been accomplished and how many have not, and will present themselves for discharge from their 2023 activities before the general assembly members. Aegean Exporter Unions, which provides the largest representation of exporters in Turkey through its 12 exporter unions, has 4,659 exporting companies eligible to participate in the general assembly. The 6 of the 12 exporter unions within EİB are continuing their preparations to present awards to a total of 140 companies that contributed most to exports in 2023 at their general assemblies. At the general assemblies of Aegean Exporter Unions, the steps to be taken to reach export targets in our Republic's second century will be discussed at the general assemblies, the highest decision-making body of the exporter unions.

General assembly marathon to start with fashion industry

The general assembly marathon at Aegean Exporter Unions will begin on Tuesday, 2 April 2024 at 16:00 with the Aegean Textile and Raw Materials Exporters' Union (ETHİB). On the same day at 17:00, members of the Aegean Ready-made Garment and Apparel Exporters' Union (EHKİB), a strong representative of the Aegean fashion industry, will meet at the general assembly.

EHKİB and ETHİB maintained their position in the first quarter

The Aegean Ready-made Garment and Apparel Exporters' Union, a strong player in the Turkish fashion industry, had set a target of USD 1.35 billion for 2024 with the aim of "maintaining the current level" due to recession in its strongest export market, the European Union, low exchange rates and rising production costs. In the first quarter of 2024, EHKİB increased its exports by 3 per cent beyond maintaining the current level, and will hope for better days through the synergy that will emerge at the general assembly. The Aegean Textile and Raw Materials Exporters' Union, which reached the highest export figure in its history at USD 509 million in 2023, will engage in consultations at the 2023 financial general assembly to achieve its goal of "maintaining the current level" in 2024. Prof. Dr. Yaşar Uysal, Faculty Member at the Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences of Dokuz Eylül University, will present current developments in the world and Turkish economy to members of ETHİB and EHKİB, which entered 2024 with the goal of maintaining the current level, and will contribute to exporters positioning themselves correctly.

Tobacco sector to meet at general assembly with USD 1 billion export target

The Aegean Tobacco Exporters' Union, representing leaf tobacco and tobacco product exporters in Turkey under one roof, will hold its 2023 financial general assembly on Wednesday, 3 April 2024 at 10:30 in the Aegean Exporter Unions 7th Floor Conference Hall. The Aegean Tobacco Exporters' Union, which increased its exports by 7 per cent over the past year from USD 816 million to USD 871 million, will mobilize collective wisdom at the general assembly to reach its USD 1 billion export target.

Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals aiming to extend export leadership to 7 years

The Aegean Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals Exporters' Union, which has been in the lead with a clear margin for 6 years among the 12 exporter unions under Aegean Exporter Unions and has an annual export volume of USD 2.5 billion, will meet on Thursday, 4 April 2024 at 15:00 at the 2023 financial general assembly. With exports of USD 602 million between 1 January and 28 March 2024, the Aegean Ferrous and Non-ferrous Metals Exporters' Union, ahead of the second-placed Aegean Aquatic Products and Animal Products Exporters' Union by USD 187 million, will refresh morale at the 2023 ordinary financial general assembly to extend its top position under the EİB roof to the 7th year.

Mining exporters to meet at general assembly before MARBLE Fair

The Aegean Mining Exporters' Union, which entered 2024 like a storm, organized Turkey's National Participation in two fairs in South Korea and China, and conducted marketing activities in Saudi Arabia and England, decided to hold its 2023 financial general assembly one day before the İzmir MARBLE Natural Stone and Technologies Fair to be held on 17-20 April 2024, on Tuesday, 16 April 2024 at 16:00. The natural stone sector will meet at the EMİB General Assembly before the MARBLE Fair. The Aegean Mining Exporters' Union saw its export figures erode by 7 per cent in 2023 to USD 1.065 billion and made a bright start to 2024. The Aegean Mining Exporters' Union, which increased its exports by 20 per cent during the 1 January – 28 March 2024 period from USD 244 million to USD 293 million, reached USD 1.114 billion in exports during the past year. The Aegean Mining Exporters' Union, with a 2024 export target of USD 1.25 billion, aims to reach its USD 1.25 billion export target through the synergy that will emerge at the general assembly.

Dried fruit sector to reach USD 1.2 billion target through collective wisdom

The Aegean Dried Fruits and Processed Products Exporters' Union, which we are world leaders in producing and exporting seedless dried grapes, dried apricots and dried figs, exporting them to all parts of the world and first beginning to exceed the USD 1 billion export barrier annually, is the export growth record holder among the 12 exporter unions under the EİB roof, and will meet on Thursday, 18 April 2024 at 14:00 at the 2023 financial general assembly. EKMİB, whose annual export performance increased by 19 per cent from USD 866 million to USD 1.03 billion, will mobilize collective wisdom in the sector and transform the general assembly into an opportunity to reach the USD 1.2 billion export target it has set for the end of 2024.

Stars of leather sector exports to be awarded

The Aegean Leather and Leather Products Exporters' Union, one of the leading labor-intensive sectors, entering a challenging year in 2024 as the increase in exchange rates outpaced the rise in energy, raw materials and labor costs, will hold consultations at its 2023 financial general assembly on Wednesday, 24 April 2024 at 17:30 to overcome this squeeze. In order to boost the morale of Aegean Leather and Leather Products Exporters' Union members during a difficult year and to honour them for their export activities, at the 2023 financial general assembly, the union will hold the "Stars of Leather Exports Awards Ceremony" to award 39 of its members who achieved export of over USD 1 million in 2023. The 39 companies receiving awards in the footwear, leather, leather jacket and bag categories contributed 67 per cent to EDMİB's USD 192 million export recorded in 2023.