TEXTILES.ORG
An international platform is needed to boost textile trade and research. Such an event is happening in India this October. The textiles sector is a major foreign exchange earner in many countries, including India, Bangladesh, the U.S., Brazil, and Australia, all of which export cotton that supports the economy in rural areas. Given the stagnant growth situation in textiles, efforts are needed to strategize the growth of this sector.
The landslide victory for the Labour Party in the U.K. in the parliamentary election on July 4, suggests that leaving a single market system has played a part in changing the government, again emphasizing the need for global trade and pro-growth policies. In this current scenario, a global platform to connect textile manufacturing and exporting countries is being organized in Ahmedabad, India by Diagonal Consulting (India).
An important feature of this international event is the participation of global organizations joining hands as supporters to boost international linkages. The U.S-based American Association of Textile Chemists and Colorists (AATCC) is a supporting partner, which is viewing India as an important textile market that provides ample opportunities for global collaboration. Cary, N.C.-based Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry (INDA) is serving as a knowledge partner. The India-based Indian Technical Textiles Association and Ahmedabad Textile Industry’s Research Association are partnering in the event, highlighting the strength of collaboration to push the industry forward in areas such as advanced textiles.
Emphasizing the importance of international linkages and standards, John Crocker, AATCC president, says, “The textile business has become truly global, and today raw materials may be produced in one country, dyed and finished in another, cut, sewn in yet another, and sold halfway around the world.”
Executive Vice President Diana Wyman concurs. “AATCC is committed to supporting the global textile community and truly excited to be a part of this wonderful event as a next step in growing engagement within the Indian textile industry.”
“INDA finds great value in developing and supporting international collaboration for the benefit of our members and the industry. We understand and value the global nature of nonwovens and the many industries that benefit from engineered material solutions,” says INDA president & CEO Tony Fragnito.
The conference provides opportunities for the global industry to discuss timely themes, such as sustainability, advanced textiles, nonwovens and standardization. These are important topics as they can push the sector to the next level and create new opportunities boosting domestic consumption and export.
As a way of promoting research and innovation, the conference is sponsoring innovation awards for professionals in the industry and research sector. Highlighting the importance of this international platform, Dr. P. R. Roy, Chairperson of Diagonal Consulting (India) says, “We hope this event will be a transformative platform to harness the industry’s growth potential through collaborative partnerships, which is the need of the hour.”
A presentation from AATCC will focus on a timely topic, “Driving Sustainability and Innovation through Standards.” Matt O’Sickey of INDA will present the market information on nonwovens and opportunities for international linkages.
Given the global need to boost manufacturing, the stage is set in Ahmedabad Oct. 22– 23 to provide a valuable platform for industry, researchers and innovators with a mission to take the textiles and advanced textiles industry to the next level.
Details of the global event are available at www.intexcon.in.
Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, is a professor at the Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory, Texas Tech University, Lubbock.