ISTANBUL, Turkey — Kucukcalik, one of the largest curtain fabric weavers in the world has developed a new business in The Tenth of Ramadan section of Cairo, Egypt with export sales of $60 million expected this year according to Yilmaz Kucukcalik, principal of this family business. 

The business is set up in a duty free zone. Kucukcalik sells to distributors worldwide from its Egyptian factory in all price categories, including working with top editors. “We need to have volume in order to maintain correct product development. Without volume, we cannot develop top end products.

Yilmaz Kucukcalik, managing director and principal of Kucukcalik

The business depends on the local Egyptian and Turkish market for 30-40 percent of its business and the rest of Kucukcalik’s products are exported. “We started up from nothing in 2006 and now have 1,400 workers in Cairo. The Cairo based Kucukcalik manufactures its own polyester yarn and weaves mostly voile fabrics with dyeing, finishing and cut and sew. It sells finished curtain sets form the Cairo based factory worldwide. 

“In three more years, we expect to generate sales of $100 million from that plant. Our business in turkey is stable and we are focused on more value added higher end products from Turkey. We have a Turkish team running the Egyptian business. All middle management is Turkish.