A business and institutional mission organised by Italian Trade Promotion Agency and ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers, is travelling to Ethiopia from 1- 4 July, with the intention to strengthen contacts between Italy’s textile machinery industry and the local textile and garments sector.

Raffaella Carabelli, President of ACIMIT explained: “Ethiopia is a country with great prospects that is willing to invest in order to allow its textile sector to continue to grow. The goal of this mission is not just to present what our sector has to offer, but to develop a dialogue with the local authorities for a program of long term cooperation.”

A total of eight associated companies will be participating in the programmed event in Addis Ababa: Bianco, Corino, Fadis, Marzoli, Mesdan, Reggiani, Savio, Stalam.

Growing market

Between 2004 and 2010, Ethiopia recorded a GDP growth rate of 11%, ranking among the world’s fastest growing economies. In 2012, GDP growth came in at 7%, and is expected to remain at this level for the coming years. The country’s textile and garments industry is one of its essential sectors, employing 20% of the nation’s entire workforce.

In this economic climate, the demand for machinery by local textile manufacturers has grown significantly. Over the past five years, machinery imports to Ethiopia have increased on average by 13% annually. In particular, Italian exports rose 7% annually between 2008 and 2012. The value of Italian exports toward the Ethiopian market amounts to roughly 2 million Euros (2012).

Italian spinning and finishing machinery are among those most in demand by Ethiopian textile producers.

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).

Another major aim of the association is to inform  its member companies about commercial, financial and technical problems in different markets in order to facilitate market entry.

www.acimit.it