Cosmetics and Cleaning Products Sector Future Research Workshop Held

The Istanbul Association of Exporters of Chemical Substances and Products (İKMİB) held a "Cosmetics and Cleaning Products Sector Future Research Workshop". The workshop, held in Bodrum on 7-8 September 2019, included sector status analysis and evaluation of problems and proposed solutions. The "Cosmetics and Cleaning Products Sector Future Research Workshop", organized under İKMİB's sponsorship and bringing together sector representatives from cosmetics and cleaning products, was held in Bodrum between 7-8 September 2019 with the participation of İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister, Deputy Director General of Exports at the Ministry of Commerce Bilgehan Şaşmaz, İKMİB Board Vice Chairman M. İmer Özer and İKMİB Board Member Uğur Adıyaman, as well as İKMİB representatives, representatives from 35 companies, representatives from the Association of Chemists, representatives from the Cosmetics Manufacturers and Researchers Association, representatives from the Cosmetics and Cleaning Products Manufacturers Association, and representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Health, and Treasury and Finance Ministry.

Future of Exports Addressed

Over the two-day workshop, the present and future of the sector were discussed under the moderation of İzgören Academy Board Member Gökhan Okçu. In round-table meetings with sector representatives and all stakeholders, fundamental problems were addressed, solutions were proposed, and steps for the future were discussed. Participants gathered at a seminar titled "Individual and Corporate Perception Management in Marketing" delivered by Gökhan Okçu. A special presentation was organized that outlined the current situation in the US market for exporting companies, market trends, and guidance for companies planning to enter the US market. A presentation titled "Cosmetics Sector in the American Market" was delivered by Bengü Türk, founder of PMO Partners, which included general data, opportunities and challenges in the market. İKMİB Board Chairman Adil Pelister delivered the opening speech of the workshop, stating: "All sub-sectors of our chemistry industry are of serious importance both for us and for our country's economy. Cosmetics has current importance as much as economic and commercial importance. Despite this importance, I believe that the cosmetics sector in our country does not receive the market share it deserves in world markets. I think the primary reason for this is the failure to build brands. Over the past few years, we have had exports of approximately USD 1 billion 150 million at nearly the same levels. However, some changes are being observed in the sub-sectors of cosmetics. For example, we are seeing an increase in our essential oils exports." Pelister noted that the sector faces certain difficulties, particularly in packaging, and that the sector needs to work together to find solutions. He emphasized that they have implemented two UR-GE projects for the sector, national participation organizations for leading cosmetics fairs including Dubai Beauty World, Hong Kong CosmoProf and Bologna CosmoProf in Italy, trade delegations and purchasing delegations, and stated that greater participation in these organizations is necessary for the sector's development.