Zeynal Abidin KAPLAN
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Anatolia Carpet Exporters Association (GAHİB)

Zeynal Abidin Kaplan, born in the village of Erikliyayla in the Oğuzeli district of Gaziantep, began his business career at an early age. In 1993, he founded Özkaplan Carpet and entered the carpet industry. Between 2003 and 2018, he served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Gaziantep Chamber of Carpet Makers. From 2018 to 2022, he was a Board Member of the Southeast Anatolian Carpet Exporters’ Association (GAHİB). In 2022, he was elected Chairman of the Board of GAHİB, which represents one of the world’s leading carpet production and export centers based in Gaziantep.
With extensive industry experience, Kaplan continues to actively invest in various sectors. In addition to being the founding partner and Chairman of the Board of Özkaplan Carpet and Simurg Carpet, he also serves as Vice Chairman of the Carpet Sector Board of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM).
Re-elected as Chairman for a second term in 2026, Kaplan leads the strategic direction of a sector that exports machine-made carpets to more than 140 countries. During his first term, the region strengthened its position in global carpet production through a focus on innovation, design, and sustainable growth. In his new term, he aims to enhance Türkiye’s position in international trade, increase the global competitiveness of Turkish carpets—particularly in the United States, the Middle East, and Europe—expand into new markets, and foster international collaborations.