APTEXPO 2024 unites industry leaders in Singapore

The event is sponsored by the ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX) and the China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), and co-organised by MP Singapore Pte Ltd and The Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPIT TEX). The Singapore Fashion Council (SFC) is also supporting the event as the host association in Singapore.

The three-day event features influential speakers and panel discussions covering critical themes in supply chain resilience, digitalisation, and sustainability.

The ceremony on the first day includes a welcome address by Sharon Lim, president of the SFC, and opening speeches from Poh Chi Chuan, executive director of the Singapore Tourism Board, Albert Tan, chairman of the AFTEX, and Sun Ruizhe, president of the CNTAC, the organisers said on the official website.

The first plenary session is titled ‘Industry Development, Market Trends and Supply Chain Cooperation from a Global Perspective’. Key topics include the current challenges and trends in the global textile and garment industry by Christian P Schindler, the EU’s role in shaping sustainable textiles by Dirk Vantyghem, and insights on supply chain challenges by Deepika Rana. Following this, a panel discussion on ‘Regional Collaboration for Re-engineering Towards a Resilient, Adaptive, and Sustainable Supply Chain’ will take place, moderated by Zhang Tingting, CEO of SFC, with industry leaders like Yeung Chun Fan, Yang Shibin, Paul Lennen, and Lena Lim sharing their insights.

Plenary Session 2 is titled ‘The Drivers of Supply Chain Restructuring: Technology, Branding and Sustainability’. Speakers include Jonas Wand on AI's role in apparel and textile value chains, Chris Govier on digitalisation for sustainable growth, Sunny Huang on digital supply chain solutions, and Henry Tan and Peter Pernot-Day on exploring new e-commerce markets in Asia.

The second panel, ‘Mutual Benefit and Win-Win: Re-Activation of the Asia-Pacific Production Capability Cooperation’, is moderated by Regina Leong, CEO of Trackland and Permanent Secretary General of AFTEX. Industry voices such as Daw Khine Khine Nwe, Ian Syarif Tan, Nutra Uttamapinant, Fazlee Shamim Ehsan, Zhang Chunmei, and Simon Goh will explore ways to foster cooperation across the Asia-Pacific.

The expo features over 200 exhibitors from more than 30 countries, showcasing innovative solutions across the textile supply chain, from sustainable materials to digital retail platforms. The event also offers workshops and private sessions, enabling companies to network, exchange knowledge, and build partnerships.

APTEXPO 2024 runs until November 15, offering a valuable opportunity for industry leaders and stakeholders to contribute to a stronger, more interconnected textile supply chain in the Asia-Pacific region.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KD)