ITMA ASIA + CITME’s Return To Singapore A Step Forward For Global Textile Community: Alvin Tan
The global textile machinery exhibition ITMA ASIA & CITME returned to Singapore for the first time in two decades, marking a significant moment for the industry’s shift toward digitalisation and sustainability. The event, held at Singapore Expo, brought together around 800 exhibitors from 30 countries and attracted more than 30,000 visitors across its 70,000 sq. metre exhibition space.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Singapore’s Minister of State for Trade and Industry, Alvin Tan, said the event’s return represented a “homecoming” for the textile sector, which last convened in Singapore in 2005. He highlighted how the industry had shifted from prioritizing cost and scale to focusing on innovation, automation, circularity and low-impact manufacturing.
Tan noted that Asia-Pacific continued to account for over 60% of global textile production and consumption, with Southeast Asia emerging as a key region for diversified, technology-driven manufacturing. He emphasized Singapore’s strategic role as a trusted hub for finance, logistics, technology development and MICE events, positioning the city-state as a gateway for textile companies expanding across the region.
The minister also pointed to local advancements driving textile innovation. Companies such as Browzwear have accelerated digital fashion workflows through 3D apparel design, while startups like NextEvo have developed fibre from pineapple leaf waste and Xinterra has launched COzTERRA, a material capable of capturing CO₂ from the atmosphere. Meanwhile, manufacturers including Teo Garments have adopted energy-saving and water-recycling production systems.
“These developments show how our industry has evolved just as dramatically as technology and culture have over the last twenty years,” Tan said. He added that the event offered an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and shape the next phase of textile transformation.
Tan concluded by expressing confidence that the industry would continue advancing sustainability and innovation, making this edition of ITMA ASIA & CITME not only a return but a step forward for the global textile community.
