Konya ranks among the top 3 cities in Turkey in the footwear industry.

Konya is among Turkey’s leading industrial cities. With our production and export potential, we strengthen Turkish industry. Last year, we exported $3.306 billion to 195 countries. In the first nine months of this year, we increased our exports by 6.1%, far exceeding Turkey’s national average of 3.2%, reaching $2.609 billion. Hopefully, by the end of the year, we will surpass last year’s export figures and set a new record.

We have a strong production potential across various sectors, from automotive and machinery to the food and defense industries. Among the sectors in which we excel, our footwear industry stands out. In terms of footwear production capacity, we are among Turkey’s top three cities. We have an annual production capacity of 80 million pairs of shoes. Our city provides employment for approximately 15,000 people through over 600 companies in the footwear sector.

The shoes produced in Konya are sold both in the domestic market and exported by our footwear manufacturers to many countries around the world, from European nations such as the UK, Germany, Romania, and Poland to the Middle East, Russia, and Africa. Furthermore, our footwear sector is one of the rare sectors focused on nurturing its own workforce through vocational high schools, vocational colleges, and university departments dedicated to Footwear Design and Production.

As the Konya Chamber of Industry, we closely monitor the concerns and demands of our footwear manufacturers and all other sectors. Our Export Support Office provides guidance to our companies on export-related matters. We are aware that we must produce more, create higher value- added production, and increase exports. I am confident that with the contributions of our footwear sector, we will continue to build the industrial future of Konya.

Vocational education is one of our priority areas

As a Chamber, vocational education and the green transformation are among our top priority working areas. In addition to presenting our recommendations to the Provincial Employment Board to train the skilled workforce needed by our industrialists, we are also conducting various other projects. For example, this year, we declared a vocational education mobilization in Konya. To increase young people’s interest in vocational education and bring them together with industrialists, we organized the Konya Vocational Education Employment Fair. At the fair, which was visited by 4,332 students and graduates, 7,549 job interviews were held.

Pioneering Initiatives in Twin Transformation from KSO

We are carrying out initiatives in green transformation that will set an example for Turkey. As the Konya Chamber of Industry, approximately two years ago, in collaboration with the KOP Regional Development Administration and our Provincial Directorate of Industry and Technology, we launched the Energy Efficiency Mobile Survey Vehicle Project. With this vehicle, we visit industrial facilities, public institutions, and organizations to conduct energy efficiency assessments. So far, with our Energy Efficiency Mobile Survey Vehicle, we have conducted energy measurements at 104 different locations for 62 companies and organizations. Through these assessments, we have provided our firms with the opportunity to save 6,600 TEP (Tons of Equivalent Petroleum) of energy annually, equating to $6.152 million. Additionally, we have prevented the emission of 39,500 tons of carbon annually.

Furthermore, one of the projects we have implemented during this term is the creation of a platform, in collaboration with the KOP Regional Development Administration and the Provincial Directorate of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change, where all our members can calculate and report their corporate carbon footprints in accordance with standards, completely free of charge. The reports generated by our industrial enterprises on this platform will be verifiable. On this platform, which we have made available under the name Ayakizi.org.tr, our members will also have access to up-to-date information on the Green Deal and will have the opportunity to compare devices and machinery they use in production based on data such as energy efficiency and carbon footprint.

We have also prioritized the Twin Transformation process, which includes the green transformation, as a key area of focus for our industrial enterprises. We have begun offering all our members a free Digital Maturity Assessment to help them enhance their competitiveness through digitalization and reduce their carbon footprints.

MUSTAFA BÜYÜKEĞEN

PRESIDENT OF THE KONYA CHAMBER OF INDUSTRY