Foundation underpins Turkish leather industry training effort
Founded as a non-profit organisation in 1998, the goal of the Turkish Leather Foundation (TURDEV) is to promote education as a competitive tool for the leather garment and tannery sectors.
The Foundation now has 33 members and General Coordinator, Ms. Ferda Tiryakioglu, reports that whole tannery zones, like Bursa, Corlu outside Istanbul, and Menemen complex, have become group members.
"The increase in membership is because we are better-known and respected," Tiryakioglu explained. In 2002, TURDEV funded forty-two students at advanced vocational schools. Over the past 10 or 12 years, it can be seen that individual leather producers or tanners who invested in university education, business studies and/or foreign language skills for key employees are now the ones best equipped to compete in the global arena." Ms. Tiryakioglu said.
