ITC-supported textile and clothing companies attend International Textile Machinery Association exhibition

Sixty textile and clothing companies, as well as trade support institutions, from Egypt, Jordan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Tajikistan and Tunisia are attending the International Textile Machinery Association (ITMA) exhibition in Barcelona this week (20-26 June).

Thanks to support from the International Trade Centre, the companies will have the opportunity to learn about latest technologies, participate in tailored seminars and guided tours focusing on environmental sustainability, industry 4.0, digital transformation and the future of on-demand manufacturing to build enterprise capacities.

The companies’ participation at ITMA is part of the four-year Global Textiles and Clothing (GTEX) programme and the Strengthening the International Competitiveness of the Textile and Clothing Sector in selected Middle East and North African Countries’ (MENATEX) initiative, financed by the Governments of Switzerland and Sweden.

‘The side events organized as part of the GTEX and MENATEX programmes during the most important textile and clothing technology fair in the world, organised every four years only, will give our beneficiary companies a comprehensive insight into the future of the industry,’ said Matthias Knappe, ITC’s programme manager for fibres, textiles and clothing.

‘Some of the important aspects that companies will experience, for example, new technology to improve their environmental footprint, will the subsequently addressed by each project through tailored enterprise coaching.’

The event provides an opportunity to connect with decision-makers, influencers and industry experts in the field. ITC partnered with ITMA, as well as the Training Centre of Singaporean Textile and Fashion Federation, to organize the side events, allowing high-level speakers to listen the specific concerns and of ITC supported companies.

Attracting 120,000 visitors from over 150 countries, more than 1,700 exhibitors are present at ITMA to showcase the latest and trending technologies in the textile and clothing sector.

The overarching goal of the GTEX and MENATEX programmes is to build competitive and sustainable businesses and create long-term employment, especially for women and young people in a key manufacturing sector for all countries concerned.