Mumbai: While legendary explorers Marco Polo and Vasco da Gama charted out an adventurous voyage in discovering other countries, the India ITME Society is venturing on a ‘exploration’ course of its own into the African continent through the 2nd edition of the ITME Africa & Middle East event in Kenya from November 30 to December 2 this year.
Noting that this event is to equip and enhance Kenya’s textile production prowess, SeemaSrivastava, Executive Director, India ITME Society, said that despite having enormous untapped potential for trade expansion with Africa and the Middle East, the present trade with these regions is limited to certain sectors only.
“All elements are aligned favourably for surging forward towards national economic prosperity and finding success in global trade,” she said, adding “Modernization and innovative technology is the only way forward for Industry and Business to succeed in today’s world.”
She said that Kenya is on the right track towards becoming Africa’s Textile and Apparel Hub thanks to its over 80 years of successful development and also being the fastest-growing economy with increasing Textile technology in the African continent.
“As the host country for ITME Africa 2023, Kenya – as a prominent country of the Africa Union and active member of AFTA can be the pivot for Textile technology and Engineering industry in the entire African continent.”
KetanSanghvi, Chairman, India ITME Society, said that with 23 countries converging in Nairobi (Kenya) under the banner of the India ITME Society, Africa will benefit tremendously in sowing the seeds for future partnership and successful business in the African continent.
“ITME Africa & Middle East 2023 is an important milestone in enhancing bilateral trade relations and promoting industrial cooperation between Kenya and India. This partnership aims to leverage the business potential of both the countries and build on the innovation, economic growth and sustainability goals of their respective textile technology and engineering industries.”
Many Government organization & Associations from Kenya have joined hands with India ITME Society to host this Textile Technology & Engineering event to bring prosperity to the whole of African Continent & explore potential of Kenya as a new business destination along with other 23 exhibiting countries – Austria, Benin, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Togo, Turkey, Tunisia, Uganda, Unites States of America & Zambia, besides India.
Updeep Singh, Textile Industry Expert, said “India possesses a robust textile engineering foundation and boasts the world’s second-largest textile industry, including featuring manufacturing facilities. The Kenyan textile industry will showcase the business potential of the country globally, while also increasing visibility, business inquiries and widening opportunities for India’s exports in Textiles and Machinery businesses, and also leveraging an untapped customer base of the African continent.”
“Now, with the addition of the African Union in the G20 Summit conducted in New Delhi, the trade volumes with India is expected to rise in the Continent and Textile machinery companies should capitalize on this,” he added.
PramodKhosla, Chairman & Managing Director, KhoslaProfilPvt. Ltd., highlighted the tremendous scope in infrastructure development in most of African Countries, which presented a great opportunity for Geo textile and also for many other Technical Textiles segment such as Indutech, Packtech, Buildtech, Protech etc.
“India ITME society has taken the right steps to promote trade relations between India and Africa that will help the textile industry and allied ventures by generating demand and boosting production in the African Continent.
Balvinder Singh Sawhney, Asst. Secretary General, FICCI, emphasised that this exhibition presented a less riskier & cost-competitive platform to explore new ventures & new shows, especially for Small and Medium Businesses. He also shared his three ‘‘E’s” mantra for the industry —“Explore&Expand with Exhibition.”
The event highlights the ITME’s efforts to promote joint venture and business cooperation for Textile and Machine manufacturers, while also acting as a +catalyst+ towards modernization of the African textile industry.
It will also explore Kenya’s potential as a new “business destination” along with 23 other participating countries including besides India– Austria, Benin, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, Ghana, Italy, Jordan, Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Togo, Turkey, Tunisia, Uganda, USA and Zambia.
With this, it will strengthen its position as a pioneer in modernization of its textile industry, while also becoming a pivot for Textile technology upgradation for Africa & Middle East with focus on: Cotton Seed & cotton farming technology & equipment, machinery related to engineering products, home textile products, associated goods& services for textile industry, and technical information services, educational research institutes & COEs.
