The premier trade show for Pakistan’s textile machinery industry, IGATEX, the International Garment & Textile Machinery Exhibition & Conference, will take place in Karachi from April 24 to 26. The Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) and the Italian Trade Agency are organising an Italian collective participation for the first time in a long time. Eleven businesses will compete, three in the spinning hall and the other eight in the finishing area. Ten businesses—Audaces, Biancalani, Brazzoli, Danitech, Fadis, Ferraro, McS, Pinter Caipo, Pozzi Leopoldo, and Zanfrini—are members of ACIMIT.
According to Marco Salvadè, president of ACIMIT, “the textile sector in Pakistan has experienced a significant downturn due to a worsening macroeconomic situation in recent years, following a long period of strong investments in plants and machinery.” The reduction in demand is reflected in the pattern of Italian textile machinery exports to Pakistan. Between 2021 and 2023, the value of textile machinery sold to Pakistan decreased from 134 million euros to 44 million euros. Italian sales, however, recovered to 34 million euros in the first nine months of 2024, a 27% rise over the same time in 2023.
Salvadè stated, “The recovery of our exports confirms the validity of ACIMIT and ICE’s decision to organise an Italian collective participation at IGATEX 2025, despite the challenges faced by Pakistani textile companies in recent years.” I think it’s important to stay active in the local market, and we do so by operating a technological training centre at the National Textile University in Faisalabad, which was set up in partnership with the Italian Trade Agency and PISIE, the International Polytechnic for Industrial and Economic Development. Italian machinery is known for its innovation and quality, which continue to be crucial components in raising Pakistani textile industries’ global competitiveness.