Leading UAE textile industry players to register strong presence in ITCE Dubai 2004

ITCE Dubai 2004 to serve as right platform for UAE industry to devise mitigation strategies for quota phase out effect

(PRWEB) September 4, 2004 -- Leading UAE-based textile and clothing machinery traders representing leading global manufacturers of textile machinery will have a strong presence at the International Middle East Exhibition for Textile, Embroidery and Sewing Machinery and Accessories (ITCE) Dubai 2004.

The Middle Easts premier show for textile manufacturing machinery, technologies and accessories, which is an annual fixture in Cairo, is being held in Dubai for the first time, to target the GCC market. ITCE Dubai will showcase the very latest in textile and clothing manufacturing technology to over 6000 trade visitors from 21 countries attending the show.

Six industry leaders from the UAE will join more than 130 global exhibitors at ITCE Dubai 2004, organised by Intralinks, as a partner show of MOTEXHA Autumn 2004, the Middle Easts largest Fashion and Textile trade fair. Both ITCE & MOTEXHA will be held at the Dubai World Trade Centre from September 7 to 9, 2004. The UAE pavilion at ITCE Dubai 2004 will host industry leaders like Al Borj, Forum, Omran, Oubari Gulf, Star Sewing and TransGulf, who are active in the GCC and North African markets.

Ahmed Ghozzi, Chairman, Intralinks, said: Industry bodies and the UAE government have launched a series of concerted measures towards promoting the national textile industry, spurring increased activity in textile export and import sectors. The Middle East textile and clothing industry have been clearly revitalised by this, in the run up to the quota phase out".

The 1995 Agreement of Textile and Clothing (ATC) will phase out the restrictions placed by the 21-year-old Multi Fibre Agreement (MFA) by the end of 2004, dismantling trading quotas for textiles and clothing, providing unimpeded access to hitherto restricted markets.

The UAE has been negotiating Regional Trade Alliances (RTA) and Free Trade Agreements with leading economies and the signing of Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) with the United States in March 2004 provided a breather to the UAEs textile and clothing industry, despite the imminent quota phase out that will put UAE in direct competition with worlds biggest textile and clothing producers. However, due to its strategic location and the concerted industry-wide action have placed the UAE in a better position to surmount the difficult situation.

Even though FTAs and RTAs throw a lifeline to the industry in the post ATC scenario, competitiveness in foreign clothing and textiles markets in the long run will be solely determined by the industrys success in modernisation and the collective response it offers through consolidation of production activity," said Ghozzi. ITCE Dubai 2004 represents an ideal platform for industry leaders from the UAE to devise strategies directed at sustainable growth in the textile industry in the coming years."

The immediate challenge lies in consolidating the formal and informal activity in the textile sector, applying new technologies and producing quality wares with increased response time to changes in trends," said Ghozzi. Factors like geographical proximity to major import markets such as Euro-Mediterranean zone, investment in technologies, productive workforce, industry wide action aimed at production and warehousing consolidation and realistic assessment of international markets, increase the competitive advantage of the UAE in relation to other countries in the region."

The US$ 60 million Dubai Textile City initiative launched earlier this year is a clear indicator of the direction UAE is taking to boost the industry. The Dubai Textile City has been positioned as a hub for traders from the Europe, South Asia, African, CIS and Middle East, in addition to tax exemption for US goods passing through the Textile City.

The textile and clothing sector is very important, as it represents seven per cent of the worlds manufacturing output, 8.3 per cent of the value of manufactured goods traded in the world and accounts for more than 14 per cent of worlds employment. While effecting changes that make structural difference to the industry is the first priority, the industry in the Middle East must find valid solutions to improve human resource skills," said Nora Soliman, Business Development Manager, Intralinks. Increased automation of the production process and the breakneck speed of technological change means that more attention must be paid to develop the skills of its workers."

Forums such as ITCE Dubai bring together the UAEs leading textile machinery giants as well as exporters from across the world seeking to provide a valuable contribution to the textile and clothing sector. This will definitely boost local production, enhance quality and offer manufacturers a chance to explore the measures needed in order to adjust to the needs of the global industry," she added.

The Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, The Department of Economic Development-Government of Dubai and The Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority are supporting the ITCE Dubai 2004, which will be hosted in Hall 5 at the Dubai World Trade Centre. ITCE Dubai 2004 will serve the traders and visitors from over 30 countries including Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Iran, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Yemen, UAE, Russia, Turkmenistan, Turkey, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
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