Textile fair to bring fresh success to UAE industry

Dubai — Textile in the UAE has had one of the most significant impacts on the country’s economic prosperity. Yet, it is one of the least marketed industries in both the UAE and the region at large.

Today, the country stands as the world’s fourth largest trading centre for fashion and apparel, raking in an estimated $17.5 billion annually. This makes it the second largest trading sector behind oil and also one of UAE’s largest employers in the industrial sector.

 Dubai is a particularly attractive destination for local and international textile companies because of its strategic positioning, advanced infrastructure, free and fair business environment, favourable shipping costs and locally growing population.

The international textile fair (ITF) was introduced in Dubai last year to further boost this sector and provide added competitive advantages to the regional traders through exposure to a global network. The fair is set to scale up in its second season at the World Trade Centre on April 26 and 27. This season, ITF is bringing together over 200 international textile manufacturers in the region, along with a panel of industry experts to provide technical expertise to visitors at the fair.

Increasingly international textile and related machinery manufacturers have been looking at the UAE as a significant location within which to expand their business interests. Texmas, the Textile Merchants Group that represents 800 Dubai wholesale textile traders has strongly endorsed ITF as a platform that allows both foreign and the local traders to explore opportunities within the lucrative regional market.

Ex-chairman of Texmas, Tejinder Singh expressed his pleasure at the advent of a serious trade event such as ITF in this sector. He says, “There is much need for an event that showcases the strength of the local textile industry that has been the mainstay of the city’s financial development.” Since its conception, ITF has garnered tremendous support from Dubai Customs, which expressed its appreciation towards the organisers of the fair. Khalfan Alkeabi, Senior Manager Client Relations at Dubai Customs said; “We are delighted to be part of the International Textile Fair, which is a dynamic platform that will further consolidate Dubai’s position as a regional hub for major international trade between the East and West.”

He added: “The exhibition provides real opportunities for industry participants in the textile an increased return on their investments in the Middle East and UAE in particular, due to the availability of infrastructure and legislation that is conducive to investment.”

The UAE is currently the world’s third largest exporter of textiles, with annual textile exports crossing $1.6 billion, representing 7.7 per cent of the global export market. In 2014, the UAE exported over $1.623 billion worth of textiles, representing a 7.75 per cent share of the global export market.   The country now witnesses an annual cumulative growth rate of 4% and by 2016, it is set to become the world’s leading high-end textile and garment re-export centre.

Through platforms such as ITF, wholesalers in the region can keep ahead of the global competition by accessing a full range of production options and negotiating directly with manufacturers for better prices and MOQs.

Experts estimate that textile and apparel trade is expected to reach $805 billion by 2105, nearly $2 billion more than in 2010.  The UAE is now becoming the world’s leading centre for textile industry automation with the presence of about 150 apparel manufacturing companies accounting for about 5.5 per cent of the world’s annual textile and clothing sales.

Ismail Karim, managing partner at Al Dar Trading and Honorary Secretary General of Texmas said, “ITF provides an important platform to continue developing this vital sector and to further solidify Dubai’s position as the centre of the textile trade in the region.”

 — business@khaleejtimes.com