Serge Piolat, co-owner of French producer of technical spun yarns - Schappe, has taken oath as the new president of EURATEX for a two year term and succeeds Alberto Paccanelli.
Serge Piolat has extensive international experience in the textile industry and built a career in Porcher Industries Group, a fabrics producer and which also operates in the technical textiles sector.
Committed to numerous collective actions of the French textile associations, Serge Piolat has been a member of EURATEX board of directors since 2009 and vice-president since 2011.
He is of the opinion that European trade associations should always work hand in hand with industry.
And that, Euratex has to be aware of actual needs of companies to efficiently support policy makers in strengthening the European textile and clothing manufacturing.
Serge Piolat is convinced growth will come from increased exports. Thus, according to him, trade facilitation will play a central role in the Euratex agenda as companies strive to get access to the other markets.
He said EURATEX will continue promoting an international level playing field to expand the European industry in the world.
“Euratex will keep doing its utmost to increase knowledge and access to the European programmes aimed to facilitate research and innovation, for example Horizon2020 and COSME,” he said.
He added, “The textile and fashion products made in the EU are exceptional in regards the respect of environment, consumer safety and labour rights.
“Thus, EURATEX will increase communication about the European products’ excellence and responsiveness to social challenges.”
The new president counts on the support from both national associations and European institutions in order to realise his ambitious programme and enhance growth of European textile and clothing industry.
“To further enhance our industry my intention is to concentrate on a few priority areas, namely genuine industrial policy, free and fair trade, research and innovation support and sustainable production,” he noted. (AR)
