The first ever Global Textile Congress held recently in Bangkok discussed ways to develop lasting business relations between countries producing textile fibres, fabrics, machineries and carrying out extensive research in all related areas. Organised by the Textile Association (India) with the support of Thailand Convention & Exhibition Bureau (TCEB), the theme of the Congress was “Opportunities and Challenges in an Integrated World”.
The 3-day GTC saw an overwhelming delegate response not only from India but also from other Asian nations, including Thailand. More than 600 delegates from 18 countries attended the Congress during which more than 60 papers were presented.
Eminent speakers at the conference dealt with the modern trends in the development and production of new fibres, both natural and man-made, different kinds of fabrics and their multifunctional adaptability for extensive use in other industries too.
Most of the experts and technocrats also emphasised the unlimited possibilities of exchange of new ideas, techniques and fashion trends. Experts also pointed out that innovative methods and procedures are imperative at all levels in textile industry across the world to live up to the expectation of the masses aspiring for finest fabrics and apparels.
The GTC was very systematically organised and spanned across ten sessions that addressed various issues of textile industry. Two panel discussions were widely attended and deliberations by almost 30 Research Scholars and Faculty members made the conference a big knowledge pool. Various others important issues such as foreign exchange, contract management, hrd matters, supply chain and shipping were also discussed.
Thailand’s industry minister Chakramon Phasulavanich who inaugurated the Congress, pushed for an exchange programme between Thai and Indian educational institutions for higher education in the field of textile and apparels which would lead to mutual benefits for the two countries in the long run.
The Thailand industry minister noted that the global textile industry has been recently facing tough time while there was no doubt that textile industry was the largest industrial sector employing millions of workers across the world.
Phasulavanich mentioned that India was a leading textile producer country and it has significantly achieved the entire value chain of textile’s capacity building. India has also significantly created high quality of education institutions in various fields, including textiles. In this regard, most textile institutes all over India have been producing highly skilled manpower to serve Indian textile industry and other related industries operated by Indian textile manufacturers’ at all levels.
