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