Textile Expo Dubai

Despite its relatively small scale, exhibitors at the event expressed optimism in both the show and the region.By James Borneman, Textile World

Textile Expo Dubai
By Jim Borneman, Editor, Textile WorldBuilding Business ConnectionsDespite its relatively small scale, exhibitors at the inaugural Textile Expo Dubai expressed optimism in both the show and the region.

Dubai government officials and show organizers opened the inaugural Textile Expo Dubai.With all the new-sprung optimism of a country investing, building and growing at a remarkable rate, Textile Expo Dubai created a positive climate for business in the region. As a small, first-time show featuring some 130 exhibiting companies tending to 1,500 visitors, the event showed promise in providing contacts between buyers and sellers.“As the very first fair, it has been quite interesting,”commented Stefano Ponza, area sales manager, SMIT S.p.A., Italy.“We are working in markets of all sizes — Dubai is a hub for Gulf countries. This is an opportunity we can’t miss; we have made contacts with people from Syria, Saudi Arabia and many from the United Arab Emirates (UAE). I think we reached our target. Major companies want to do something in the post-quota environment. The surrounding trading companies see opportunity.” Stefano Ponza (left) and Guido Zanon, SMIT S.p.A.Prakash Saraf of India-based Supertex-Sarex reported disappointment in the number of visitors and lack of competitors, but stated,“We received several good leads, mostly from Pakistan, interested in a full range of products including our dyes for polyester.We continue to raise the image of Sarex as a global supplier.”“We came with an open mind. It is a bit quiet, but we have met serious people who want to do business,” said David Hudson, general manager — DCI UK, Datacolor. The U.S.- based company launched and sold a new conditioning cabinet at the show. The sale was to India-based Euro Jersey.“We have had quite a few people who are dealing with retailers and are interested in standards,” Hudson said. “Retailers are picking up on color measurement and color specifications.You no longer have the dyer down the road.” India-based Eurojersey, represented by A. V. Jayaraman (center) purchased a conditioning cabinet from Datacolor, represented by David Hudson (far left) and Sanjay Paranjape.The Textile HubMassimo Mormina of Giorgio Giamminola & C. S.p.A., Italy, presented the company’s wide variety of weaving accessories and spare parts.“We have made some interesting contacts and I have seen two clients from Algeria, which surprised me,” said Mormina.“I had an idea it would be a bigger show with more weavers. It has potential as a good market, which includes Syria and Iran. It is a good idea.”Maurizio Vaglio, director of TEXBIMA, the Italy-based Textile Biella Machinery Consortium, introduced show attendees to the consortium’s member companies and provided information about the textile machinery industry in the Biella region of Italy. Vaglio expressed a desire to see more heavy equipment at the show and added that with improvements, Textile Expo Dubai could be a good event. Maurizio Vaglio represented the Texbima consortium from the Biella region in Italy.“One of the main reasons to be here is that we believe that the Middle East is a market for the future,” said Jürg Rupp, the recently named director of corporate relations and communications at Hong Kongbased Fong’s Industries Co. Ltd.“We are here. We see it and we feel it.” Fong’s National Engineering Co. Ltd.’s area sales manager, Andy T. K. Chiu, added,“Syria, Iran, UAE, Egypt — the Gulf region in general — has opportunity. Though the market has fluctuated for political reasons, the market is there. We believe the growth remains and we are committed to the region.” Left to right: Fong's National Engineering Co. Ltd.'s Kendrick Ho and Andy T.K. Chiu, and Fong's Industries Co. Ltd.'s Jürg RuppIn that mindset of business development, Domenico Luzzi of Italy-based Biancalani S.p.A., said,“We are exploring — we have had communication with Pakistani, Syrian and several Iranian companies. I expect more interest in the future for our company. We need to look at Dubai as a place you can gather companies from the surrounding region — similar to Singapore. I think the new SPYRA range will be of interest here because they think big and are interested in home textiles in general.” Atlas Copco had a large showing of compressed air systems.“Most of these customers are new to us and want to set up new mills. They seem most interested in the traveling overhead cleaners,” said Nadja Junger, managing director of C-port GmbH, Germany. She added that although many of the visitors were involved in finishing and forward processes, they are now moving back to establish spinning operations. C-port is known for its Jacobi, Sistem Teehnika, Schmidt Technik and Jungbauer lines. Left to right: Manhal Said, Nadja Junger and Florian Kanzog, C-port GmbHAbout 80 percent of the visitors at U.S.-based Genencor International Inc. were from India and Pakistan, according to Anna Liisa Auterinen, the company’s Netherlands-based director of textile products.“We think this is a hub for the Middle East and [Textile Expo Dubai] has shown us that. This was a good way to look into India and Pakistan as well,” she said. Genencor, known for its enzyme treatments for textiles, from desizing to garment finishing, is heavily involved with denim treatment systems. “Because of the growth in these countries, they will see emphasis on enzymes in textiles,” said Auterinen.With the growing influence of the Middle East in the textile trade, only time will tell if small expositions like Textile Expo Dubai can attract enough vendors and visitors to be a long-term success.
May/June 2005