An Italian textile machinery delegation will be attending the upcoming multi-industry Addis Chamber International Trade Fair (ACITF), which will be held in Addis Ababa from 23 February to 1 March 2017.

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.

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.

The 21st edition of the ACITF trade fair will feature a delegation of Italian textile machinery manufacturers at the Italian pavilion organised by the ICE-Agency. Among ACIMIT associated members are: Carù, Corino, Fadis, Ferraro, Itema, Marzoli, Mei, Reggiani, Roj, Salvadè, Savio, Sicam and Simet.

Ethiopian market

ACIMIT President Raffaella Carabelli is extremely confident in the Ethiopian market. “Our 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 quality of our machine technology is superior to that of our competitors currently operating in this market. Our focus is on getting potential buyers to get to know and appreciate the quality of our 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,” explained Ms Carabelli.

Italy’s textile machinery industry and ACIMIT

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 organises 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.

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.

www.acimit.it