At the upcoming 21st edition of multi-industry Addis Chamber International Trade Fair (ACITF), that will take place in Addis Ababa during the month of February will feature a delegation of Italian textile machinery manufacturers at the Italian pavilion organized by the ICE-Agency.

Given the necessary upgrade in technology required, the demand for textile machinery is growing consequently, sustained by incentive schemes enacted by the government authorities to attract foreign capital, ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, reports.

Among ACIMIT associated members to attend the ACITF are Carù, Corino, Fadis, Ferraro, Itema, Marzoli, Mei, Reggiani, Roj, Salvadè, Savio, Sicam and Simet.

Ethiopia is an emerging production hub for the global textile and garments industry. Cheap labour costs, free trade agreements with major Western markets and a constantly growing economy have made this Sub-Saharan African country a choice destination for the manufacturing of garments by major industry retailers.

ACIMIT President Raffaella Carabelli is extremely confident in the Ethiopian market. The quality of their machine technology is superior to that of their competitors currently operating in Ethiopian market. Their focus is on getting potential buyers to get to know and appreciate the quality of their technology, through opportunities such as the ACITF, as well as through the institutional missions organized in recent years, thanks to the support of the Ministry of Economic Development and ICE-Agency, said Ms Carabelli.

To further strengthen Italy’s presence in Ethiopia, in 2015 ACIMIT signed a memorandum with the Ethiopian Textile Industry Development Institute for the creation of a technology centre providing expert training on textile machinery, thereby contributing to the professional training of future textile operators in Ethiopia.

ACIMIT is a private non-profit body and its main purpose is to promote the Italian textile machinery sector and in supporting its activity, mainly abroad. In order to do that, ACIMIT provides information on the activity of the producers and organizes a wide range of promotional activities, often in collaboration with ICE (Italian Trade Commission).

ACIMIT represents an industrial sector comprising around 300 manufacturers, employing close to 12,000 people and producing machinery for an overall value of about EUR 2.6 billion, with exports amounting to 86% of total sales.

Also their exports have grown significantly over the past five years, although their overall value remains quite modest (EUR 4.4 million in 2015), she said. Over the first nine months of 2016, Italy ranked third, right behind China and Turkey, in terms of sales of textile machinery to the Ethiopian market.

The ACITF 2017 is the country’s only International Business to Business Exhibition under the motto “Conducive Environment for Enhanced Export Performance”, will be held from 23 February to 1 March 2017 at the Addis Ababa Exhibition Center.