Southeastern Anatolia Carpet Exporters ‘Association (GAHİB) in collaboration with Gaziantep University (GAÜN) organized the 5th Carpet Design Contest and winners took their awards from Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci.
With the significant investments and capacity increase in the machine made carpet industry in the recent years, Gaziantep has become one of the most important production centers in the world. Machine made carpet industry aims to produce unique, high value added and quality products while maintaining its international competitiveness. According to this goal, Southeastern Anatolia Carpet Exporters’ Association (GAHİB) is working on special programs which help to find trained people for carpet pattern design and implementation as well as raise the capacity of human resources for these areas. In this context, in cooperation with Gaziantep University Naci Topçuoğlu Vocational School, the institution organizes Carpet Pattern Design Contest every year.
This year the fifth edition of Carpet Pattern Design Contest was held and recently the results of this traditional contest were announced with a special ceremony. The winning awards were given to their owners by Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Fatma Sahin, TIM President Mehmet Büyükekşi, the President of GAÜN Prof. Dr. Yavuz Coskun, GAİB Chairman Abdulkadir Cikmaz and GAHİB President Salahattin Kaplan.
Salahattin Kaplan, the President of GAHİB confirmed that 109 works attended the contest and 20 of them were eligible for the finals where 5 people won the actual awards. “We work closely with faculty professors during the organization. Our goal here is not to make rugs or create patterns only, we also would like to develop our partnership with the university. Thanks to all of the universities which approach to this subject with sensitivity and help us to make this successful organization” said Kaplan.
Minister Zeybekci thanked all of the participants and to those who contributed to the ceremony. During the ceremony top 20 finals receieved thank you plaques, Melisa Aslan receieved 5 thousand Turkish lira for being the first winner, Pelin Topuz 3 thousand TL for being the second and Zeynep Tuti got 2,500 TL for being the third winner. Also the 4th and 5th winners got their gifts of laptops.