Samarkand The most important event of the year in the worldwide textile industry took place in Samarkand on September 8–10, 2024, when two of the biggest textile associations in the world, the ITMF Annual meeting and the IAF World Fashion Convention, held their first joint meeting. In the 120-year history of ITMF, Central Asia was selected as the location for the first time.
More than 500 attendees from all over the world attended the event, including important figures from the European and Asian business communities. The conference highlighted Uzbekistan’s re-entry into the international textile market subsequent to the conclusion of the boycott of the Cotton Campaign in 2022.
In a total of 25 business events, including closed meetings, the official business program took place from September 8–10, covering a wide range of topics related to the textile industry, including supply chain value creation, the influence of artificial intelligence, production digitization, international regulations, sustainable development, recycling, and supply chain optimization.
A special meeting was held to discuss the future of the textile sector in Uzbekistan. The country effectively lifted the long-standing boycott of Uzbek cotton thanks to comprehensive reforms that included the removal of the state’s monopoly on cotton cultivation, the establishment of cotton clusters, the outlawing of forced and child labor, and other measures. Uzbekistan is now a part of international organizations such as Better Cotton and Better Work, and multiple certificates attest to the high quality of Uzbek cotton and its conformance with international production standards. The IAF World Fashion Convention and ITMF Annual Conference provided a special venue for showcasing national achievements and promoting foreign collaborations.
“We greatly appreciate and back any initiatives from our international partners that will benefit both parties. We are especially prepared to offer our full support in putting in place the prerequisites so that foreign companies can do business in Uzbekistan. In his speech to conference attendees, Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev stated, “We are also ready to establish favorable conditions for esteemed international organizations to regularly hold conferences, exhibitions, and fashion shows in our nation, especially in cities like Bukhara, Khiva, Shakhrisabz, Margilan, Kokand, Namangan, and Andijan, which offer high tourism and industrial potential.”
“Our visit to Samarkand is not limited to admiring the magnificent Silk Road City.” We are also here to learn a great deal about the remarkable advancements that Uzbekistan has made in the past eight years since the initiation of President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s reform program. In his welcome address, ITMF President Dr. K.V. Srinivasan stated, “It will be very interesting to learn how the country’s cotton, textile, and apparel industry has changed during this period and what can be expected from it in the future.”
Before the harvest season began, conference delegates had the chance to tour cotton clusters in Samarkand and learn about Uzbekistan’s diverse textile industries. The ITMF Awards and ITMF Start-up Award, which honor the most notable accomplishments and developments in the sector for 2024, were presented at the event’s conclusion together with the winners.
“To hold this major event, Egypt, Turkey, Indonesia, and the United States vied with Uzbekistan. The choice of our nation emphasizes Uzbekistan’s expanding position in the world’s textile supply chain. We’ve come a long way in just two years, greatly broadening our network of foreign partners. The nation’s textile sector sold goods valued at about $3.5 billion to more than 75 nations in 2023; by 2026, we hope to have increased exports to $6.5 billion. In order to accomplish this, it is essential to fortify relationships with reliable international allies, as stated by Mirmukhsin Sultanov, acting chairman of the Uztextileprom Association.
Visit https://www.itmf-iaf-conference-2024-samarkand.org for more details about the conference and speaker bios.
