Lectra opens new headquarters in Istanbul

08/07/2005

Having participated at Tuyap, the largest equipment and software trade fair in Turkey for the textile and apparel market, Lectra Turkey has now officially opened its new national headquarters in Istanbul.

At the opening ceremony on 15 June, Daniel Harari unveiled the 1,400 m2 Advanced Technology Center (ATC). There is also a software and equipment customer support line designed to further improve Lectra's response to the needs of its customers.

The company has been present in Istanbul since 1988. It now has over 600 customers and offices in Ankara, Izmir and Bursa. In Turkey, 75% of the company's sales are generated by the textile and apparel markets, 10% by the rapidly growing furniture and furnishings market, a further 10% by the automotive industry (one of the main driving forces behind economic growth in Turkey) and 5% by footwear, luggage and leather goods.

"This country is continuing its transformation process and it is improving both its subcontractor expertise and the quality of its production. It also has enormous potential to develop brand names in a rapidly growing local market." said Daniel Harari, Lectra's CEO.

According to the WTO, Turkey is the world's fourth largest producer of apparel and the world's tenth largest producer of raw materials for the textile industries. Its main market is the European Union which accounts for 63% of total exports.