From 24 to 26 April, Karachi will host IGATEX, the International Garment & Textile Machinery Exhibition & Conference, the leading trade fair for the textile machinery sector in Pakistan. After several years, ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, together with the Italian Trade Agency, is once again organising an Italian collective participation.

A total of 11 companies will take part, with three exhibiting in the spinning hall and the remaining eight in the finishing section. Ten of these are ACIMIT member companies, including Audaces, Biancalani, Brazzoli, Danitech, Fadis, Ferraro, Mcs, Pinter Caipo, Pozzi Leopoldo, and Zanfrini.

"In Pakistan, the textile sector, after a long period of strong investments in plants and machinery, has experienced a significant downturn due to a worsening macroeconomic situation in recent years," commented Marco Salvadè, president of ACIMIT. The trend in Italian textile machinery exports to Pakistan reflects this decline in demand. The value of textile machinery sold to Pakistan dropped from 134 million euros in 2021 to 44 million euros in 2023. However, in the first nine months of 2024, Italian sales rebounded to 34 million euros, marking a 27% increase compared to the same period in 2023.

"Despite the challenges faced by Pakistani textile companies in recent years," Salvadè concluded. "The recovery of our exports confirms the validity of ACIMIT and the Italian Trade Agency's decision to organise an Italian collective participation at IGATEX 2025. It is crucial to maintain a presence in the local market, where we are also active with a technological training centre at the National Textile University in Faisalabad. This initiative has been established in collaboration with PISIE, the International Polytechnic for Industrial and Economic Development, and the Italian Trade Agency. Innovation and quality, which define Italian machinery, remain key factors in further enhancing the international competitiveness of Pakistani textile companies."

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