Delegates from 38 countries to attend ITME Africa & ME 2023 in Kenya

This most awaited congregation of technology and business has created a palpable buzz across the globe and will be inaugurated by Namgya C Khampa, high commissioner of India in Kenya and Dr Juma Mukhwana, principal secretary, state department for industrialisation, ministry of trade and industry, Kenya, India ITME Society said in a press release.

The largest number of exhibitors are from India with 60 companies and the second largest participation is from China with more than 25 companies. Italian Textile Agency along with 13 companies is actively promoting Italian machinery manufacturers to connect with African nations who are looking to develop and modernise textile factories through the ITME Africa 2023 platform. In total, 120 companies from 11 countries shall exhibit to the business visitors from Kenya and other African nations.

So far, visitor registration has crossed 36 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and South-east Asia who are looking at connecting with Kenya as well as with other visiting delegates. Major textile mills and industry representatives from India form the highest overseas visitor delegation with 153 Indian companies including prominent ones such as Reliance Industries Limited, Vardhman Polytex Ltd, Sutlej Textiles & Industries Ltd, Batik House, Colourinn Industries Private Limited, Ambica Jute Mills Ltd, Harikrushna Textiles, Indokem Limited, and Kohinoor Exports, followed by Ethiopia, Germany, Bangladesh, Austria, Tanzania, and South Africa respectively.

To facilitate interaction among all delegates, the organiser India ITME Society has curated multiple interactive sessions at the event. Financial solutions for investments, JVs, and capital good sourcing from India, will be explained by Exim Bank of India and Bank of Baroda, at the special session on November 30 immediately after the opening of the exhibition.

Apart from business opportunities, this 3-day technology and engineering exhibition shall also provide favourable opportunities for researchers and students to attend technical seminars on textiles technology and cotton.

A technical presentation will be made on cotton. Good practices of cultivating quality cotton fibre | Importance of physical properties of cotton in textile industry will be made by Dr Asha Rani, secretary cum chief cotton breeder- SIMA CDRA on December 1, 2023, at Lenana Hall, KICC from 10:00 am onwards.

The ITME Africa Technical Sessions featured a distinguished lineup of speakers, including eminent figures from India such as Ramanadane, CEO of Global Operations at LMW, and Hitesh Wadher, vice president of international business and B2B and head of marketing at Neochem Technologies Pvt Ltd. Other notable speakers from India included Arun Varshney, VP and business head - textiles at Color Jet India Ltd; textile expert and industry leader Updeep Singh; Rajeev Johari, CEO of global operations at Lux Industries Ltd - JM hosiery division; Naveen Joon, resident representative for East Africa at Exim Bank India; and Vinay Kumar Rathi from the Bank of Baroda.

Kenya’s growing potential in the textile industry was showcased by several eminent Kenyan speakers. These included Richard Cheruiyot, board chairman of the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA); Jas Bedi, chairperson of KEPSA and chairman of the Kenya Export Promotion & Branding Agency as well as managing director of Bedi Investments Limited (BIL). Thomas Kipkurgat, managing director of Rivatex East Africa Limited, and Benjamin Chesang, manager of research, planning, and innovation at EPZA, also spoke at the event. Richard Davies, deputy director – technical specialist at Gatsby Africa, textiles and apparel, represented the Kenyan side.

From Italy, Roberto Cortinovis, area sales manager of the business unit warp preparation at Karl Mayer Rotal, presented the Italian textile engineering expertise. This gathering brought together technocrats and industry leaders from 38 countries under one roof in Kenya, hosted by the ITME Society and supported by various ministries, government organisations, and domestic and international associations.

Support from the host country, Kenya, included contributions from the ministry of investment trade & industry, EPZA, Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Fashion Agenda Africa (FAA), Gatsby Africa, and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI). Indian support was provided by the ministry of external affairs, ministry of textiles, The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Textile Machinery Manufacturers' Association (TMMA), Indian Textile Accessories & Machinery Manufacture Association (ITAMMA), Textile Association of India (TAI), and Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI).

Additionally, organisations from across Africa and other countries lent their support. This included the Botswana Textile & Clothing Association (BTCA), Association of Ghana Industries (AGI), Indo Polish Chamber of Commerce & Industries (IPCCI), Turkiye Textile Machine & Accessory Industrialists Association (TEMSAD), Uzbekistan International Business Development Association (UIBDA), Egyptian Cotton Association (EGA), and Tradelink Chamber Uganda.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (NB)