GİSAD has been a leading name for exports in the Turkish manufacturing industry and one of the major success stories of the export-based development model the country adopted in the early 1980s. GİSAD has consistently gained strength in spite of the political and economic fluctuations and difficulties in the export-oriented sectors over the past decade, achieving a stable growth in both membership and turnover.

Textile and garment manufacturers represented the leading Turkish exporters in the 1990s. The garment industry still continues to play a major role in the Turkish economy today as the driving force in exports, creating added value and employment opportunities as a net exporter, as its export volume grows year after year.

GİSAD was established in 1997 with 49 shareholders from the textile and garment industry. Today, it has become a foreign trade company encompassing not only the textile and garment industry, but also all the exporters in the country; and a giant corporation of 200 shareholders and more than 850 members. GİSAD and its members had a consistently increasing turnover during the past decade, while the volume of exports rose from US$ 76 million to more than US$ 2.4 billion today. This rapid growth has enabled GİSAD to increase its market share in garment exports from 0.49% in 1997 to 16% in 2007. Similarly, its share in Turkey's total exports grew from 0.28% in 1997 to 2.31% in 2007.

GİSAD's activities are based upon fairness, transparency, reliability, accessibility, and dynamism in meeting the expectations of its customers. These principles have helped GİSAD become a major player in exports and the manufacturing industry. It also plays an effective role in the Turkish economy with its subsidiaries and ever-expanding fields of business. Initially providing specialized export services only, GİSAD later established a number of group companies to meet the different needs of its members in various fields of business: GİSAD Factoring, GİSAD Operational Vehicle Leasing, GİSAD Global Sourcing, GİSAD Telecom, GİS Insurance and GİSAD Technology. GİSAD Group of companies aims at continuous improvement, growth and providing a more profitable and better quality operating conditions to customers. GİSAD closely follows new and growing business fields, and also analyzes different sectors through its R&D units.

Exporters from different sectors accounted for US$ 300 million of all exports made by GİSAD in 2007. Increasing popularity of the services provided by GİSAD across the country has also encouraged companies operating in other fields to use these services. Representatives from such different sectors as furniture, aluminum, electrics and electronics, mechanics and mining have also joined as members of GİSAD this year.

As all sectors open up to global competition, short, medium and long-term strategies in cost management have become a strong factor in achieving success. To this end, GİSAD works hard to meet the essential requirements of exporters in the garment industry and other sectors with low-cost and high-quality solutions. This is the cornerstone of GİSAD's activities in all sectors. It offers crucial services in such areas as finance, communications, IT and transport with suitable margins in order to help Turkish garment exporters and other members gain a strong position in global markets.

GİSAD has made a marked difference in the competition with a number of bold and astute steps taken in recent years. Today it is moving forward to become a global player providing essential services to its members in export finance and enjoying a reputable position in international markets. Upon successful completion of restructuring processes, it has taken radical decisions and made major progress in becoming an effective international finance company. GİSAD will undoubtedly continue advancing towards these objectives.

Global economic crises and the present stagnation have led to a competition becoming fiercer than ever before. Today high quality products with high added value are of demand. GİSAD has survived every challenging period to date with further growth thanks to its broad perspective and approved policies, and is also seeking ways to turn the present competition to its own advantage. To this end, it believes in the importance of developing new business processes with EU countries and creating high-quality brands in every field from design to collection. Such high-quality products and brands are also crucial for the promotion and development of Turkey.

GİSAD has always aimed higher and applied its principles across its activities. Maintaining stable growth without compromising these principles, it has aimed at becoming the leading star of Turkish exports since its inception. GİSAD will continue working selflessly, developing wise strategies and taking the necessary steps towards becoming a global player with its members in 2008 and subsequent years.

Overview of Garment and Textile Industry - GİSAD's Principal Sector of Exports

Following the crisis in 2001, and particularly the decline in the exchange rate of US$, the textile and garment industry has turned its face from the United States, which was its principal market, to the Euro Zone in Europe. The most important underlying factor in this move was pricing difficulties in the face of the competition in BASIC products and countries such as China taking control of the ''BASIC products'' market, particularly in the United States. These developments led the Turkish manufacturers to focus on products with a “high added value”. Our companies excel particularly in design, ability to develop original models and rapid response to customer demands. As a result, our manufacturers have gained a competitive edge in the “fast fashion” market which requires products with a short shelf life and new models quickly.

Competition in the European market, the pressure to reduce costs and opportunities provided to customers by non-governmental organizations, have caused buyers to introduce longer terms. The average terms were extended from 20-25 days to 60-90 days. As a result, the cashflow of manufacturers are affected by these terms of payment for the products. Furthermore, exports on “cash against goods” basis put the manufacturers in a weaker position before the banks which prefer giving loans with securities. Factoring companies cannot provide sufficient support to manufacturers in terms of either volume or efficiency.

Manufacturers have no difficulties in product range or quality. Turkish manufacturers have proved their quality and have become a theme setter in many trade shows with their designs. The main problem of manufacturers is finance and cashflow. Those companies that can overcome cashflow difficulties, manufacture products with a high added value and most importantly, provide customers with fast delivery together with design are certain to thrive.

At this point, GİSAD meets all the financial needs of exporters and supports the manufacturers with post-finance products against their receivables.