The role of textile and leatherwork sector in the development process of the Uşak economy

Textile and leather sectors provide important outputs and employment to Turkish economy, and they are also considerable sectors of foreign trade. These two sectors have been among the main economic activities of Uşak province as a result of its geographical location that is on important and historical trade routes. In this study, the years of textile and leather sector in Turkey and Uşak province as development problems and solutions examined were presented. Although textile and leather sectors have changed into capital-intensive production through the developing technology during the last decades, they still use labour-intensive production methods and thus provide important employment. From this aspect, the development of these two sectors is important for both the country and the province in order to fight against rising unemployment. Today, both sectors have important problems that need urgent solution. Informal production, employment, manufacturing technology, raw material procurement and quality, energy and labor costs, advertisement and marketing, financing and foreign trade, R&D studies, and incentive policies are among the main problems. The permanent and long-term solutions to these problems will provide important gainings both for Turkey and especially for Uşak province considering its role in these sectors. Redevelopment of these two sectors with Uşak's historical knowledge and competitive advantage in the sectors will rise the city and will turn it into an attraction centre.