India-ITME to witness over 1,50,000 visitors from 92 countries

India-ITME 2016, the most prestigious textile technology and engineering business event, will be held from December 3-8, 2016 at Bombay Convention & Exhibition Center, Mumbai. The event plays a pivotal role in strengthening the domestic as well as international textile industry by facilitating exchange of knowledge, technology transfer, and encourages FDI, JVs, etc. Conceptualised in 1979, India ITME event has become a backbone of textile and textile engineering industry in India. Seema Srivastava, Executive Director, India-ITME Society, talks to the ITJ about the differentiating factor of India-ITME from all the other events in past, and the new trends among the new countries participating.

What according to you will be the major differentiating factor of India-ITME 2016 from all the India-ITMEs of the recent past?

The 10th India-ITME event shall showcase 11 new product launches for spinning, eight for processing and six for weaving, totaling 25 new products for the business visitors to see first time. More than any international event held in the past.

This event is supported by the Department of Heavy Industry, Textile Ministry, Government of India and INDEXTB, the Government of Gujarat as State Partner, making this the only privately organised exhibition supported by Central and State Government. India-ITME 2016 is also supported by 77 international industry associations, universities and media partners across the globe.

Exciting display of engineering, razor sharp intellectuals presenting technology papers, panel discussions on varied current topics, rustic artisans weaving magic with bare hands, students impressing the industry, passion and creativity at its best, tradition in its glory, experience it all at India-ITME 2016.

Offering solutions to big and small, array of exhibits from 37 countries, forging stronger trade relations with neighbouring countries India-ITME 2016 shall provide and create opportunities for everybody. Sourcing, buying, partnering, investing, exploring new customers, markets, agents, dealers, all under single roof.

What is the final tally of exhibitors? What is the new trend and which are the new countries participating?

A total of 210 new companies are participating this time of which 168 are Indian companies and 42 foreign companies. A new and exclusive hall for digital printing, testing and measuring equipment, dyestuff and chemicals showcasing exhibitors from Taiwan, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland, China and Austria is attracting much visitor enquiries. Turkey especially in spinning, weaving and chemical and dyes chapters are of high interest to the domestic and regional business visitors at India-ITME 2016. A total of 1,050 exhibitors will be participating during the India-ITME event.

Green technology and waste water technology for textile units from Italy, China and India shall provide much-required solutions for Indian textile units. Carpet machinery from Belgium and Turkey, fibre and yarn from China, Taiwan, Germany, Indonesia shall be of much interest to visitors.

India-ITME Society seems to have done the most number of road shows in India & abroad this time. Your comments on the response What are your expectations in terms of visitor numbers?

The 10th India-ITME—to be held in December 2016—shall see a 1,50,000 visitor footfall over six days from all around the world and Indian sub-continent. Visitors and delegations from countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Kenya, Ethiopia and the Middle East have already registered. Extensive promotional activities are ongoing in Ethiopia, China, Egypt, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Spain, UK, Israel and Turkey.

What are the highlights of the concurrent events planned along with the India-ITME exhibition?

The highlights of the concurrent events during India-ITME exhibition are:

• December 3, 2016 – Textile technology with special focus on Make in India, National Institute of Fashion Technology
• December 4, 2016 – Textile Finishing Conference: Efficient & sustainable approaches to textile waste water-WTIN, UK and Alumni meet – DKTE Institute, Ichalkaranji
• December 5, 2016 – Textile dyes & chemical technology – Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT), Mumbai and Interactive meeting with Chinese business delegation China Cotton Textile Information Centre
• December 6, 2016 – Digital printing technology – Technological Institute of Textile & Science (TIT), Bhiwandi
• December 7, 2016 – Professional development workshop: Educating the textile industry (The Textile Institute, UK) and Fashion show – National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT)
• December 3-6, 2016 – Weavers of Maharashtra – Live craft work by artisans, India through lens – Photo Art Gallery and WILD INDIA – Photography display

This year has seen ITM in Turkey, followed by ITMA Asia in Shanghai. Will this have any effect on the number of international visitors?

India is home to second largest textile industry with a very large and still growing domestic market.

This is a huge opportunity for the textile and textile engineering industry today. India-ITME offers huge domestic market opportunity as well as access to regional market in the neighbouring countries.

Such a unique combination of convenience, cost effectiveness, market opportunities and business potential is not offered by any other exhibition or destination. As such we have received overwhelming response from the exhibitors for participation in India-ITME 2016 also we are expecting a good turnout of business visitors from across 92 countries.

After having visited for road shows in India & abroad, how do you feel about the textile machinery industry’s status in India? What will be the 2016 India-ITME’s effect on production, capacity and exports of the Indian industry?

The opportunity and potential for textile machinery industry in India is very high if they are tapped appropriately and wisely. India needs to develop its strength in other textile segments other than spinning. However, with ‘Make in India’ campaign India offers an excellent opportunity for foreign machinery manufacturing companies to set up their plant in India to manufacture cost effective machinery and also access to the new customer/market coming up such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Africa. India-ITME 2016 is expected to be landmark event not only for the Indian textile industry but also will be a catalyst for the growth of the South East Asian textile industry.

After India-ITME 2016, will there be any event like the GTTES that was held a few years ago?

GTTES in 2018 December very important regional show to push local and domestic business. GTTES shall continue to a very important regional show with specific agenda of promoting local and domestic business in this sector. GTTES offers many regional companies to participate in international quality exhibition in their own locality and also for the foreign companies to take their technology and services to the door step of local customers.