Barcelona beckons
All eyes are on Barcelona, the venue for the nine-day mega textile machin-
ery show opening on September 22. Held for the first time in Spain, ITMA is
distinctly different from the earlier editions for many reasons. Besides being
the largest in terms of the number of exhibitors as well as the projected trade
visitor turnout, there are several new-comers ready to compete with the cur-
rent textile machinery majors with their equally innovative and sophisticated
technology for the world’s leading textile and garment manufacturers. There
are over 1,300 exhibitors from 45 countries. Around 70 per cent of the ex-
hibitors are from Europe, with Italy fielding the largest contingent, followed by
Germany and Switzerland. Among non-European participants, India has this
time overtaken Japan and China with over 120 exhibitors. Thus India is next
only to Italy and Germany, with 320 and 210 exhibitors respectively.
For its debut in Spain, ITMA features a new yarn and fibre chapter with a
greater focus on garment making technology. As usual, speakers at the ITMA Forum would illustrate
how innovative business practices, technology and operational processes can be applied to give textile
companies the leading edge in today’s highly competitive markets. CAMATEX has partnered with top
industry organisations to introduce a series of complementary events designed to help the textile and
garment industries share knowledge and learn about the latest trends with key players in the respective
sectors. The most prominent among them are the Textile Summit, Sustainable Textile Leaders Roundtable
and the Textile Dyestuff and Chemical Leaders Forum. Some 150 organisations from 62 countries in
different sectors of the textile and garment value chain as well as several related industry groups have
pledged their support to the show. As from other world textile centres, a large number of Indian visitors
sponsored by CITI and other associations are expected at Barcelona. Besides, special delegation visits
have been arranged by industry associations in different countries.
The Barcelona show comes at a time when the global textile and machinery industries are at a cross-
roads. For, a period of welcome recovery after the world economy was virtually paralysed by the worst-
ever global recession in 2008 is now followed by a spell of renewed economic uncertainty resulting
from government debt crises in the US and Europe. However, the general mood among exhibitors is
upbeat, reflecting a strong trading sentiment in the first half of 2011. The Indian exhibitors too are ex-
tremely optimistic of the show prospects despite the recessionary phase through which the world textile
and machinery industries are passing through. The crisis-ridden Indian textile sector hopes to limp to
back to normalcy with the assured Government package of reliefs for its immediate recovery. Of special
significance is the Government decision to withdraw the suspension of TUFS and extend it during the
12th Plan period. This would boost the textile machinery industry morale as it ensures faster technology
upgradation.
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The Textile Magazine
SEPTEMBER 2011
R. Natarajan,
Managing Editor & Publisher