FTA to Be Signed Between Japan and Turkey May Help to Boost Apparel Exports From Turkey

The expected free trade agreement (FTA) to be signed between Japan and Turkey may help in boosting apparel exports from Turkey, said president of the Japanese Textile Federation Akikazu Shimomura, during a recent visit to the Aegean Exporters’ Association (EHKIB) in Izmir.

A delegation of Japanese textile industry representatives from the Japanese Textile Federation recently met with Turkish textile exporters from the EHKIB and the Aegean Exporters Union (EIB) with the aim of discussing cooperation in the textiles sector between the two countries, reports Cihan news agency.

During the meeting, Mr. Shimomura said that the FTA to be signed between the two nations could prove to be extremely beneficial for the textile and apparel sector of both the countries, and Turkey’s apparel exports to Japan may also increase.

EHKIB chairman Emre Kizilgunesler said the much awaited FTA would increase the trade volume between the two nations, especially in the textiles and apparel sector.

According to the EHKIB official, Turkey exported apparel worth only US$ 4.1 million to Japan in 2013, and the expected FTA may help facilitate apparel exports from Turkey to the country.

Turkey can import raw materials from Japan, and can export finished products to the country, and both the countries would benefit from the cooperation as well as improve trade relations, especially in the textiles and apparel sector, he added.