Major players in the textile and apparel industry drawn from India, Middle East and Africa converged in Nairobi, for the ITME Africa & Middle East 2023 summit and expo.
The three-day event held at the Kenyatta International Convention Center from November 30 2023, which was organized by the India ITME Society, a non-profit industry body, served as a catalyst to connect the global business leaders with their counterparts from to Kenya and Africa.
Seema Srivastava, the Executive Director of India ITME Society said the event, held in Kenya for the first time, offered a unique forum for textile industry value chain players such as manufacturers, exporters, cotton farmers, investors and traders, to expand their businesses.
“ITME Africa 2023 is sure platform to reboot, reinvent, and rejuvenate the Textile Industry of the continent with innovative solutions from across spinning, weaving, processing, and accessories segment. It has a wide range of innovative and sustainable solutions for eco-friendly and top-in-class textile chemicals and finishes.
“The spinning solutions at ITME Africa & Middle East are your best fit to upgrade and spin huge profits. The weaving and knitting advanced technology will help in adapting mass production and also reduce the consumption of water and power which will ensure to fabricate profitable business,” said Srivastava.
Industry Principal Secretary Dr. Juma Mukwana and the Deputy High Commissioner of India to Kenya Rohit Vadhwana were among guests who graced the event.
ITME Africa 2023 offered attendees a chance to meet and interact with vendors displaying the latest technology textile production; from machinery, accessories, components and services for spinning, weaving, processing, digital printing, garmenting, fashion and fabrics under one roof.
The ITME AFRICA and Middle East 2023 served as a gateway for textile technology and engineering encompassing education, skills development, Joint Venture Investments, and sourcing of new markets.
Kenya exported textile and apparel worth Kshs 4.5 billion to the U.S. in 2022, thanks to the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), according to a study by London-based Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA).
The textile and apparel sub-sector has also benefited from steady growth in capital investment, with a 7.2% increase from 2018 to 2022, during which 36 firms with a capital investment of Kshs 24.88 billion employed 66,260 people and generated exports worth Kshs 54.12 billion.
In 2022, the textile and apparel sub-sector accounted for 7% of Kenya’s total exports.