Denizli has evolved as the textile capital of Turkey over the past 50 years. At present, 36% or 266 companies of Denizli Chamber of Commerce (DTO) are textile and madeup manufacturers. Denizli-based textile firms currently export their products to more than 120 countries.

According to Necdet Özer, President of the DTO, our members were saved from the worst effects of the global downturn because of our earlier withdrawal from U.S. markets a few years ago.

Textile companies in Denizli, Turkey's leading textile-producing town have started diversifying their customer portfolios, looking beyond European Union countries toward Central Asia and the Middle East.

The number of jobs in Denizli's textile sector declined 9.9% in the first 11 months of 2009, while exports declined by 22% over December in comparison with the same month the previous year, but now there is some improvement both in terms of new orders and jobs.

Zafer Katrancı, owner of Ozanteks, said his firm has started selling its products in Azerbaijan and is eyeing opportunities in Russia and Iraq. Ozanteks produces bathrobes and towels mainly for export and had a turnover of $130 million in 2008. In December its exports were down 20% compared to the same month in 2008.

Ilhan Yaşar, chairman of Turkuaz Tekstil, noted that Denizli's textile sector was lucky to have orientated itself away from U.S. markets three to four years ago because of transport issues and increasing competition from Indian and Pakistani firms. Turkuaz Tekstil produces a wide selection of towels and bathrobes for some 30 customers in Europe and had a turnover of 24.7 million euros in 2008.

China is not really affecting our business, but Pakistan and India compete against Turkish products in the States. If Turkey had still been as focused on the U.S. market, the effects of the global downturn would have dealt Denizli a much heavier blow.

Local manufacturing continued its transition from commodity textile production to technology-driven operations in automotive, electronics and chemicals, although innovative textile products became a much larger part of the equation.