Asian Textile Conference (ATEXCON), the most awaited annual mega event of Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), is back with its 11th edition scheduled on 31st August – 1st September 2023 in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. The Theme of 11th ATEXCON is “2025 & Beyond Asia’s Global Hub for Textile Manufacturing & Consumers”. Over 400 delegates from global textile & apparel value chain are expected to participate in the 11th ATEXCON.
ATEXCON brings together the leading players of Asian textile industry, global input suppliers and service providers to deliberate on key areas of business, including regional as well as global issues concerning this sector. The Conference also focuses on the emerging opportunities through cross country cooperation. ATEXCON has also become an important platform for discussing the major technological advancement happening in the textile industry & raw material field and showcase the best practices in textile value chain.
Asia has emerged as the hub for textile& Apparel production. According to the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), Zϋrich, in 2021, Asia and Oceania accounted for 89 percent of ring spinning capacity,82 percent of shuttle-less weaving and 85 percent of circular knitting capacity in the world. 50 percent of cotton and 80 percent of man-made fibres are produced in Asia. Asian non wovens production doubled in the last decade and occupies over 50 percent of world market share [INDA, EDANA].
Textiles and clothing rank among the Top 5 manufactured goods trade globally [WTO]. Notably, Asia has emerged as the major sourcing hub for international brands and retailers as Asia held 65 percent market share of the nearly $ 800 bn world trade [2021]. It is not a coincidence that two of the world’s 5 largest fashion brands – Uniqlo [$ 19bn] and Shein [22.7bn] – are domiciled in Asia.
Asia is reaping the demographic dividend. The combined GDP of 50 Asian countries at $41 represented about 40 percent of the global GDP [IMF,2022]. The continent is home to 60 percent of humanity with an estimated per capita textile consumption of 14 kgs [ICAC]. The vast population with changing lifestyles will remain a key demand driver for consumer and technical textiles in future.
The economic heft also brings a sense of responsibility. Textile and apparel manufacturing companies in Asia are embracing new ESG driven business models. Technological upgradation to improve resource efficiency has become a norm. Huge investments are being made in circular production systems.
The global textile & clothing industry is undergoing a step change characterized by sourcing shifts, sustainability and digitalization. While the ‘polycrisis’ facing the industry is real and poses challenges, at the same time, there are opportunities to align your business models to the emerging trends. Strengthening the textile eco system is a policy imperative. Navigating through the ‘polycrisis’ requires close collaboration among the stakeholders.
The upcoming 11thATEXCON in Coimbatore provides the conducive forum for policy makers and the industry to collaborate and find the way forward to usher the Asian textile industry to a sustainable future through 2025 and beyond.
Switzerland based Gherzi Textil Organisation is the knowledge partner and Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) is the Host Association of the 11th ATEXCON. Government of Tamil Nadu has extended its support to the 11th ATEXCON as a Partner State.
Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce and Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Piyush Goyal will inaugurate and address the industry captains at the 11th ATEXCON as the Chief Guest.
S Muthusamy, Hon’ble Minister for Housing and Urban Development and Prohibition and Excise, Government of Tamil Nadu, R Gandhi, Hon’ble Minister for Handlooms and Textiles, and R Sakkarapani, Hon’ble Minister for Food and Civil Supplies, Government of Tamil Nadu will be the Guest of Honor.
A galaxy of eminent speakers and panellists will deliberate on various important aspects of the textiles and apparel business covering the following topics.
Business sessions:
• Enabling Resilient Textile & Apparel Supply Chains
• Regional Cooperation And Partnerships For Sustainable Development
• Emerging Trends & Opportunities In The Mmf Based Value Added Textiles Including Technical Textiles
• Collaborating With India
• Green Revolution: Scaling Sustainable Textile & Apparel Manufacturing
• Trends, Developments And Innovations In Home Textiles
• Managing Financial Risks In T&A Businesses
11th ATEXCON is being supported by leading Textile Trade Associations’ like International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), Joint Apparel Association Forum, Sri Lanka, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC), The Clothing Manufactures Association of India (CMAI), Handloom Export Promotion Council (HEPC), Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA), etc.
The Sakthi Group of Companies, Lakshmi Machine Works (LMW), Birla Cellulose, Waaree, India ITME Society are some of the prominent sponsors of the 11th ATEXCON.
