In addition to the textile production carried out in Gaziantep, the city serves as the center of Türkiye’s textile manufacturing cluster together with the surrounding provinces. The GTM 2027 Gaziantep Textile Machinery Exhibition, which will be held on 17–19 November 2027 at the Middle East Fair Center (MEFC) located within the Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone and offering 30,000 sqm of indoor exhibition space, will bring together Turkish textile investors with textile machinery and technology manufacturers, creating opportunities for new partnerships and investments.
Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone Chairman Cengiz Şimşek stated, “GTM 2027 will be an exhibition where the latest developments in the textile industry will be showcased and where manufacturers can come together on a common platform. As the Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone, through the cooperation established for the organization of GTM 2027, we aim to ensure that textile machinery exhibitions become a permanent part of Gaziantep’s industrial calendar. We will provide every possible support in this regard.”
“The Ideal Location for a Textile Machinery Exhibition: Gaziantep”
In the first three months of 2024, Gaziantep’s textile industry achieved exports worth USD 340 million, making it the second-largest textile exporting province in Türkiye after Istanbul. During the same period, 71% of Türkiye’s textile exports were generated by Istanbul and Gaziantep. In addition, 28 companies operating in Gaziantep are listed among Türkiye’s Top 500 Industrial Enterprises.
Commenting on Gaziantep’s textile production capacity, Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone Chairman Cengiz Şimşek stated:
“Gaziantep is Türkiye’s leading production center, accounting for 91% of the country’s machine-made carpet production, 91% of polypropylene yarn production, 82% of nonwoven fabric production, 77% of acrylic yarn production, 48% of gimped yarn production, 40% of PE/PP woven sacks and bags production, and 36% of cotton yarn production.”
Türkiye’s Largest Organized Industrial Zone
Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone is currently the largest organized industrial zone in Türkiye, consisting of five development zones and covering an area of 43.25 million square meters. With the sixth Organized Industrial Zone, where infrastructure works have already begun, total employment is expected to increase to 350,000 people.
Gaziantep, one of Türkiye’s industrial powerhouse cities, has already commenced the development of its 6th Organized Industrial Zone. Scheduled for completion in 2025, the new zone will cover an area of 12 million square meters, with the total employment capacity of the Organized Industrial Zone projected to reach 350,000 people.
Chairman Cengiz Şimşek stated that following the allocation of industrial plots to investors, infrastructure works commenced in August, and production activities within the 6th Organized Industrial Zone are expected to begin within one year.
Şimşek said:
“In the current economic climate, investing is challenging for industrialists. However, we must support manufacturers and create favorable conditions for investors. The entrepreneurial spirit must be preserved. I would like to thank all industrialists who continue to invest. We are doing everything possible to create an environment that encourages investment. I believe that investments will increase further as a result of the measures implemented by our government to improve the investment climate.”
“We Are Bringing Euphrates Water to the Organized Industrial Zone”
Chairman Şimşek continued:
“We export to nearly 200 countries around the world and hold global leadership positions in many sectors. With the employment opportunities we provide to more than 300,000 people and the investments we realize, we are implementing exemplary projects that will leave a lasting mark not only on Gaziantep but also on Türkiye.
Water is essential for industry just as it is for human life. Since a large portion of the facilities within our industrial zone operate in water-intensive sectors, we have launched a major infrastructure project to ensure that future water shortages do not disrupt production.
Through the Euphrates Water Transmission Line Project, for which we laid the foundation in May 2024, we will meet a future water demand of 120,000 cubic meters per day through a 55-kilometer pipeline extending from the Euphrates River to the Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone.
This project will enable us to provide higher-quality water to our industrialists at a lower cost.”
“Fabric Dyeing, Yarn Dyeing and Similar Industries Will Grow”
“We will commission the Euphrates–Organized Industrial Zone Water Transmission Line within one year. Once completed, sectors with high water demand, such as fabric dyeing, yarn dyeing, and related textile industries, will experience significant growth, while industrial diversification within our region will continue to increase.
We are turning this vision into reality through the projects we have already launched and those currently under development. We continue to strengthen our infrastructure to ensure that new global brands emerge from our industrial zone and achieve international success.”
Cengiz Şimşek
Chairman of the Board
Gaziantep Organized Industrial Zone (GAOSB)