About Us

ABOUT SOUTHEASTERN ANATOLIA EXPORTERS’ ASSOCIATION

Exporters’ associations are institutions where exporters come together either by sector or region, operating under the umbrella of the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM). They play an indispensable role in the national economy.

The Southeastern Anatolia Exporters’ Association (GAİB) was established by bringing together four different "Exporters' Associations" under a single roof, or in other words, under a single General Secretariat. Since 1984, GAİB has been serving exporters in the region with its headquarters located in Gaziantep. It also has liaison offices in Kahramanmaraş, Mardin, Malatya, Diyarbakır, Şanlıurfa, Adıyaman, Kilis, Cizre, and the Gaziantep Free Zone.

GAİB, which has nearly 20,000 members, consists of the following associations:

• Southeast Anatolian Textile and Raw Materials Exporters' Association
• Southeast Anatolian Cereal, Pulses, Oilseeds, and Products Exporters' Association
• Southeast Anatolian Dried Fruits and Products Exporters' Association
• Southeast Anatolian Carpet Exporters' Association

Our General Secretariat provides secretariat services for sectoral councils that propose solutions to the challenges faced by exporters across Türkiye in the textile, cereals, pulses, oilseeds, and carpet sectors and guide the future of these industries.

The main objectives of our associations are:

• To ensure professional ethics and solidarity among exporters,
• To regulate their professional activities and relations,
• To assist in solving economic and bureaucratic problems faced by exporters.

Our associations act as a bridge between exporters and bureaucracy. Problems, demands, opinions, and suggestions of member firms are brought to the agenda of Association Management Boards and Sectoral Councils. Based on the decisions made, necessary actions are promptly initiated before relevant authorities. This process contributes to solving exporters' problems, removing barriers to exports, and increasing the country’s export volume.

Projects determined by the Association Management Boards and Sectoral Councils are implemented under the coordination and guidance of the Ministry of Trade and the Türkiye Exporters Assembly (TİM). These projects aim to enhance the international competitiveness of member firms. Sectoral promotional projects and Ur-Ge (Support for Development of International Competitiveness) projects are implemented under the supervision of the Ministry of Trade. Exporters successfully represent themselves at sectoral fairs held domestically and abroad, advancing steadily towards achieving an export performance worthy of the second century of our Republic.

Another key responsibility of our General Secretariat is to regularly inform members on a wide range of topics, including legislative changes, international agreements, non-tariff measures, consultation meetings organized by public institutions, as well as purchasing and trade delegations organized by other associations and trade organizations. Beyond its own activities, our associations also support various initiatives conducted by other civil society organizations, universities, and professional organizations, which are deemed beneficial for the sector and exporters after evaluations by the Management Boards.

To contribute to regional exports and meet the need for skilled labor in the sectors, our General Secretariat organizes various training sessions and seminars. Additionally, training meetings and seminars are held for the representatives and employees of member firms in coordination with the Ministry of Trade and the Türkiye Exporters Assembly.

During regional fairs, purchasing delegation programs are organized, enabling qualified foreign buyers to hold bilateral meetings with exporters. This allows firms to directly communicate with potential buyers interested in their products.

Workshops and consultation meetings addressing the current issues of different sectors and developing solutions are held, sometimes with the participation of relevant public authorities. This provides exporters with the opportunity to directly present their issues to the appropriate officials.

Representatives of public institutions and organizations from countries facing export challenges or identified as strategic targets by our Management Boards are hosted in our region. They are informed about our exporters and potential. When necessary, one-on-one meetings and factory visits are arranged, facilitating the removal of export barriers and more effective market entry strategies.

Recognizing the significance of educational activities for the future of our sectors, the associations have actively participated in education-focused initiatives.

• The "Southeast Anatolian Exporters’ Association Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School," opened under the "Add a Brick to Education" project by the Governorship of Gaziantep.
• The "GAHİB Carpet and Foreign Trade Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School," established in collaboration with the Governorship of Gaziantep and our Carpet Exporters’ Association.
• The Traditional Turkish Arts Carpet Design Department of the Fine Arts Faculty at Gaziantep University, opened with the initiative of our Carpet Exporters’ Association.
• The Midyat Faculty of Arts and Design, constructed by our Cereal, Pulses, Oilseeds, and Products Exporters’ Association, which began operations in 2023.

Additionally, the Gaziantep Laboratory Directorate, which conducts quality and reliability analyses of export products, has been completed and is now operational.

Our associations also continue to provide services in state support programs for exporters. Our General Secretariat serves as the application authority for the Ministry of Trade’s Export and E-Export Support programs.

With its ever-increasing trade volume, GAİB, located in Gaziantep—the 6th largest export city in Türkiye—draws its strength from the dynamics of the region and the city, contributing more and more each day to Türkiye's 2025 goals.