The founder of the Republic of Turkey, our first President Mustafa Kemal ATATÜRK, during a visit to Izmir, listened to various suggestions such as developing exports in a stable manner like in modern countries and protecting exporters, and in the directive he gave to the government of the period, he requested that measures be taken regarding exports. In this context, the establishment of Exporters’ Unions was made possible with the Council of Ministers Decree No. 6107, published on March 4, 1937 and approved by ATATÜRK as President. 
Founded in 1939, the Aegean Exporters’ Association (AEA) General Secretariat has more than 7,500 member companies operating in twelve main sectors.

Founded on April 17, 1969, within the EİB, the Aegean Tobacco Exporters’ Association (ETİB) carries out various activities to increase the export of tobacco and tobacco products and to support the sustainable development of the sector.

ETİB, which is the only company in its sector in Turkey and operates in Izmir, which is located at the heart of tobacco production, with the aim of developing Turkey’s tobacco and tobacco product exports, aims to support agricultural research in the tobacco and tobacco product industry for production quality and safety as well as a sustainable export target.

As of January 2024, ETİB, which has 110 members, has exported tobacco and tobacco products worth more than 1 billion US dollars annually to 120 countries in the 100th anniversary of our Republic.