‘Sustainability Is High On The Agenda For Exhibitors And Buyers At ITMA Asia + CITME Expo’
Machinery with eco-friendly features that enhance resource efficiency and waste minimisation will be in the spotlight at the exhibition, informs Alex Zucchi
What motivated CEMATEX to reintroduce Singapore as a venue for ITMA Asia + CITME following years of successful editions in Shanghai?
Following requests from our members to have an exhibition in Asia outside of China, we decided to have a combined exhibition in a second Asian location. This is also to provide a reputable sourcing platform to support the needs of local textile and garment manufacturers in South Asia, South East and the Middle East to modernise their operations.
In what ways does hosting the exhibition in Singapore improve accessibility for buyers and exhibitors from South Asia, Southeast Asia and the Middle East?
Singapore is an attractive MICE destination and well-connected to the growing textile hubs in the region. Its extensive airlinks is a great advantage as most of the cities in the region are within a seven-hour flight radius from Singapore.
In addition, its visa-friendly policies also make it an accessible destination for these visitors. Furthermore, the exhibition requires robust infrastructural and technical facilities to support live machinery demonstrations, which the Singapore exhibition venue can provide.
Which technology or product segments are seeing the highest interest for the Singapore edition? Are there any emerging areas of innovation you foresee exhibitors showcasing?
Sustainability is high on the agenda for both exhibitors and buyers at the exhibition. Machinery with eco-friendly features that enhance resource efficiency and waste minimisation will be in the spotlight. Automation and digital solutions across the textile and garment manufacturing value chain will also be on display at the exhibition.
With the importance of sustainability and circularity, visitors can explore innovative solutions for recycling, waste reduction and pollution control.
What strategies is the organiser implementing to attract key buyer groups from emerging markets? Are there any new methods or channels being used to engage them more effectively?
There is an integrated marketing programme in place. It features both traditional and new media, as well as garnering the support of associations and media to attract buyer groups. Central to the campaign is an extensive roadshow programme covering the major textile and garment manufacturing hubs in South and Southeast Asia.
How does the promotional approach for the Singapore edition differ from that of the Shanghai show? What has been the response from the global textile community so far?
The exhibitions have different market focus. The Shanghai exhibition is predominantly for the Chinese mainland and so the organising team has an extensive outreach programme for the domestic market. Singapore, on the other hand, does not have a local textile and garment industry, and hence, the regional markets are the key targets, especially the Muslim countries in South and Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Are there any new partnerships, country pavilions or feature zones planned that you would like to highlight through our platform to attract visitors?
All ITMA and ITMA branded exhibitions do not have country pavilions, as exhibits are clustered by product sectors, and not country of origin. This makes sourcing easy for buyers who are looking at specific technologies, products or services.
The Singapore edition will feature technologies to help textile and garment manufacturers stay relevant and competitive. These include automation and digital solutions, and sustainable and circular technologies. Our exhibitors will showcase cutting-edge solutions to help buyers from this region modernise their operations in a cost-effective manner.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our audience such as trends they can expect to witness, key attractions of the show, or unique experiences planned for ITMA ASIA + CITME 2025 in Singapore?
A special highlight is the ITMA Sustainability Forum: Accelerating the Green Transition, which will be held on 30 October at Singapore Expo, alongside the exhibition. The forum will help our participants who are leading textile and garment exporters to navigate the European Union’s evolving sustainability regulations and access green financing opportunities to support their transition. The keynote presentation is by Kristin Schreiber, Director, European Commission DG GROW.
