Unfortunately no. I don't work in the field, but I just spent a few months there networking for business, and everyone is getting into the export/import business. Even housewives are making money just buying products at the local malls and dropshipping them to Europe.
The labor is ridiculously cheap after the lira crash, raw materials for practically anything can be sourced domestically, and it's right in the neighborhood of everywhere except America and China.
Feel feel to name even a single manufacturer in Turkey that’s now more competitive that a comparable Chinese manufacturer within past year and provide reasoning beyond the collapse of the lira that they’ll be able to maintain that edge; otherwise you’re just speculating without even anecdotal examples, likely bias, and clearly have a conflict of interests, given you’re recent trip to the area.
I don't see how naming a manufacturer would do anything but make me look more biased.
Like I said, I don't work in the field, so it would be pointless for me to try and construct an argument beyond the obvious points that Turkey has weak currency, close vicinity to Europe (i.e. inside Europe), strong defense, abundant natural resources, foreign capital inflows, capitalistic laws and plenty of working-age people. I don't know anything, really.
The author was calling for ideas, and it's just an idea. Take it, or leave it. Of course, there's unique problems to deal with too, which you wouldn't find in China (threat of political instability and "boş ver attitude" being two of them). But nothing lasts forever and the world's honeymoon with China is no exception.
The labor is ridiculously cheap after the lira crash, raw materials for practically anything can be sourced domestically, and it's right in the neighborhood of everywhere except America and China.