Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- In mid-October, an Italian delegation of textile machinery manufacturers will visit Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. This institutional mission, organized by ACIMIT (the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers) and by the Italian Institute for Foreign Trade, has planned a series of institutional and business meetings in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, and Tashkent, in Uzbekistan, where a technology seminar will also be held, followed by bilateral meetings.

“In the wake of the crisis which has weighed down on us the past few years, the textile machinery sector is looking for a new geographical balance” states Sandro Salmoiraghi, President of ACIMIT, who is heading the delegation. “China, India, Turkey and Brazil are the Countries with the greatest capacity to absorb textile machinery production in the future. However, we need to seek out new business opportunities in those markets where textile manufacturers from the major manufacturing Countries are now heading.”

Uzbekistan has an ancient tradition in the working of raw materials, and it is the world’s sixth largest cotton producer. In recent years, it has initiated a profound restructuring of its textile sector for the on-site transformation of the raw material, building industrial complexes, thanks in part to foreign investments. Italian exports of textile machinery to Uzbekistan in 2009 amounted to 4.2 million euros.

Turkmenistan, for its part, is taking steps towards enabling its textile industry to compete on international markets, and is looking for partnerships with major global suppliers of textile technology. This is attested by the fact that in 2009, in spite of the economic crisis, Italian exports of textile machinery to Turkmenistan reached 36 million euros, compared to around 2 million euros the previous year, thus becoming the sixth most important market for Italian machinery manufacturers in this sector.

“Emerging at a global level in the textile industry” continues Salmoiraghi “requires first and foremost an updating of technology for competing with countries whose technology level is already at a more advanced state. The aim of this institutional mission is to create a favourable context for partnership between our industry and that of the two Countries visited.”

“This will be achieved by presenting our technology and products to local entrepreneurs, as well as by establishing contacts with local governmental institutions, such as the Minister for the Textile Industry in Turkmenistan, Mrs. Aynabat Babayeva, and other organisms who still bear a large influence in disseminating and deciding industry strategies.”

Part of this effort includes the participation of Italy’s delegation at the 2nd Investment Forum in Turkmenistan (next 19th October in Ashgabat), where ACIMIT’s President will be invited among the international speakers.

The following Italian companies are taking part in this institutional mission: Fadis, Marzoli, Plm Impianti, Reggiani, Salmoiraghi, Savio, Texera.

ACIMIT represents an industrial sector comprising roughly 300 companies employing about 13,000 people, which produces machinery for an overall value of 1.9 billion Euros. The quality of the Italian textile technology is testified by the high number of Countries where the Italian machinery are sold: about 130. Exports represent 78% of total sales.