The ITMF Annual Conference 2011 takes place next month in Barcelona, Spain from 19-20 September 19/20, 2011 prior to the start of ITMA 2011 (September 22-29, 2011). Delegates will also participate in the ITMA/ITMF World Textile Summit 2011 on September 21.

The theme of the ITMF Annual Conference "New Paradigms in the Global Textile Industry" is said to reflect that the circumstances the global textile industry finds itself in has changed tremendously in the past few years.

Soaring raw material prices, extremely volatile markets, sovereign debts crises, currency disputes, political instability, the unfinished Doha-Round, etc. are a few of the many challenges that affect the recovery of the global economy in general and the global textile industry in particular.

Between September 19 and 21 international delegates will have the unique opportunity to learn more about the ongoing changes affecting the entire textile value chain, to exchange views and experiences on the challenges and opportunities ahead and to meet persons from the textile and affiliated industries from around the world.

23 high level experts from around the world covering all relevant aspects along the entire textile value chain from fibre to retail will present their views during the ITMF Annual Conference 2011 and the ITMA/ITMF World Textile Summit 2011.

Topics discussed during the three days will be:

• Where will Cotton be in 10 Years' Time?
• What are the Perspectives for the Man-made Fibre Markets?
• China and India: Strategies for the Future
• The World in 2025 - Predictable Trends and their Implications for the Global Textile Industry
• Dynamics of the Textile Supply Chain - Implications for Brands and Retailers
• Retailing: Respect, Transparency, Value and World Wide Web
• Fashion Responsive Product Development and Delivery
• Technical Textiles - New Materials and New Markets
• Developments in Global Textile Machinery Technologies and Investments
• WTO-Perspective on International Textiles Trade

Mr. Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, and Mr. Barry Eichengreen, Professor for Economics and Politics at Berkeley (USA), will be the two keynote speakers on September 21.