The ‘Furniture Sector Consultation Meeting’ was orchestrated by MOSFED, featuring the attendance of Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan, TIM President Mustafa Gültepe, and various industry representatives.
Gathering at the “Furniture Sector Consultation Meeting” organized by the Federation of Furniture Associations (MOSFED), the furniture sector, recognized as one of the driving forces of the Turkish economy, convened with over 45 thousand manufacturers, 50 thousand stores, and nearly 500 thousand employees. During the session, discussions centered around the sector’s future trajectory, with an assurance that furniture prices would remain stable until year-end as part of the anti-inflation efforts. MOSFED President Ahmet Güleç highlighted the sector’s export achievements in his opening address, stating, “In 2022, the furniture sector experienced substantial export growth, reaching $4.7 billion, setting a promising pace for the centennial year of our Republic, 2023. However, disruptions in global trade due to conflicts and upheavals, coupled with high inflation, led to a 4 percent decline in furniture exports compared to the previous year. We are implementing new strategies to mitigate these setbacks. Particularly, we are focused on expanding our presence in the United States market, where our analyses reveal that we are currently utilizing only 20 percent of our potential. This suggests a possibility of increasing our market share here by fivefold. As we proudly commemorate the 100th anniversary of our Republic, our vision for the next century is to fortify our position in the markets we enter, ensuring sustained growth and success.”
We are one of the 4 countries producing in all product groups
Analyzing the global furniture market, Ahmet Güleç highlighted Turkey’s unique position as one of the four nations producing across all product categories. He remarked, “Our products are sought after in the Middle East, Europe, and the US markets. It’s no small feat to produce goods that resonate with the preferences and customs of consumers across such a vast geographical spectrum; we stand among the few countries to achieve this.” Güleç emphasized that resolving the challenges encountered in the particle board sector would further enhance their competitiveness in terms of pricing on the international stage.
It Has an Important Place for the Turkish Economy
In his address, Deputy Minister of Trade Mahmut Gürcan emphasized the significance of the sector, stating, “We recognize the pivotal role of the furniture industry in advancing Turkey’s economic development objectives and its substantial contribution to our nation’s economic progress.” Gürcan attentively listened to the remarks of the chairpersons, board members, and members of sector unions, associations, and professional committees, taking diligent notes. He pledged to closely monitor and actively engage in resolving any issues raised during the discussions.
At the Furniture Sector Consultation Meeting, Mustafa Gültepe, President of TIM, heralded a forthcoming success story for the furniture sector, anticipating a resurgence fueled by declining inflation. He remarked, “There’s a global economic downturn impacting various sectors, with 19 out of 27, from furniture to textiles, experiencing negative trends. Our inability to compete on price stands as the primary culprit. However, with the new economic management now addressing inflation, we foresee overcoming this phase and achieving record exports in our Republic’s centennial year.” Dr. Bader Arslan, CEO of Ekonomi Gazetesi Media, delivered a presentation on the sector’s future outlook during the meeting, which concluded following a question and answer session.