The International Trade Centre (ITC) brought 70 small and medium-sized enterprises, business support organizations, and academic institutions from the Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia to ITMA 2023, the leading global sourcing exhibition in Milan. This list included 12 textile and clothing companies, two consulting companies, one sectoral association, and a sectoral government ministry from Tajikistan, supported jointly with ITC and Integrated Rural Development Project//TRIGGER to explore the exhibition and learn the latest industry technology innovations.
The companies had the opportunity to connect with industry leaders, explore the latest textile manufacturing innovations, and source across the end-to-end manufacturing value chain. This year’s exhibition focused on how the global textile and clothing industry is set to witness ground-breaking changes in the sector transitioning towards a more digital and sustainable production.
Driving Digitalization, Friending with the Environment
Under the theme "The Twin Transition: Digitalization and Sustainability," ITC's GTEX/MENATEX programme organized a two-day seminar on the margins of ITMA on 11 and 12 June, bringing together renowned experts and thought leaders to delve into the crucial topics of circularity, traceability, and digitalization, which will shape the industry's future.
Mr. Sherali Kabir, Minister of Industry & New Technologies of Tajikistan also visited ITMA fair and made welcoming remarks in the ITC seminar.
The twin transition approach is an alternative to finding solutions to climate change effectively.
The participants discussed the impact of digitalization and automation on sustainability, technical solutions for automation and digitalization in areas such as digital design, pattern making, digital printing and automated cutting.
Moreover, they addressed forthcoming EU regulations and their implications for garment manufacturers in developing countries, traceability solutions, transitioning from linear to circular practices, and meeting the increasing circular requirements of brands and retailers.
Quotes
Sherali Kabir, Minister of Industry & New Technologies of Tajikistan: “The technological innovation is a pivotal tool for succeeding in the textile and clothing industry. Visiting international trade fairs provides good opportunities for Tajik companies to be competitive in regional markets through the establishment of new business contacts, obtaining information on new modern machinery, and learning more about global market requirements”.
Matthias Knappe, Head of Fibres, Textiles, and Clothing at the International Trade Centre: “Cultivating a thriving ecosystem for small business is essential for the sustainable growth of the textile and clothing industry. By attending ITMA, our beneficiaries gained invaluable opportunities to learn, network, and forge meaningful partnerships that can fuel their growth and competitiveness. Their engagement highlights the crucial role they play in driving industry advancements and contributing to the sustainable development of the sector."
Abdulmumin Sultonov, Deputy Director, “Leader” (Khujand): “This event opened up new opportunities for us. We had a unique chance to seek cooperation opportunities with producers of exciting manufacturing technologies, raise our awareness of modern textile processing techniques for advanced materials, meet new partners, and see emerging and sustainable printing technologies”.
The visit of the delegation from Tajikistan to ITMA was made possible thanks to the Government of Switzerland through the International Trade Centre (ITC) ‘s Global Textiles and Clothing Programme and Integrated Rural Development Project(IRDP)/Towards Rural Inclusive Growth and Economic Resilience /(TRIGGER) project, jointly funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Tajikistan. ITC’s local partners – “ACT Development Group” and “Business Consulting Group” have assisted the Tajik companies to visit the fair, accompanied and led the delegation during the mission.
About ITC:
The International Trade Centre (ITC) is a joint agency of the United Nations and the World Trade Organization, supporting sustainable and inclusive economic development in the global market. Through its various initiatives and programs, ITC promotes trade, enhances competitiveness, and empowers businesses, particularly SMEs, in developing countries.
