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Réseau des professionnels Mode – Textile – Habillement en Euroméditerranée
LA CITÉ
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| France, guest of honour at Texmed trade fair |
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| Thursday, 03 July 2008 | |
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Texmed trade fair, which had been organized by the CEPEX, the CETTEX and the FENATEX, welcomed 3000 visitors, 200 Tunisian exhibitors and 59 exhibitors from abroad.
Higher quality Tunisian textile The rise of the export turnover (DT 1896.6 million at the end of April 2008, +2,9% for clothing, +34,1% for hosiery) shows the higher quality of Tunisian textile and clothing. Moreover, experts have noticed repositioning towards higher value-added niches like bathing suits and underwear. The most dynamic markets are located in Italy (+ DT 72,9 million), in France (+ DT 37,8 million) and in the Netherlands (+ DT 15,6 million). As regards the Monastir cluster, the first lots for businesses should be available by the beginning of 2009. France, guest of honour 1st customer (apparel, finished textile products), 2nd supplier and 1st foreign investor in Tunisia (400 French firms going offshore), France was this year Texmed's guest of honour. The French delegation was made up of 15 exhibitors (gathered on a 180 square meters pavillon) and the main textile and apparel organizations (UIT, UFIH, IFM...), which made some recommendations to Tunisia: improving logistics, marketing and business management, developing high value-added activities like smart textiles... Up-Tex and Mfcpole partner clusters are due to meet on this last issue, in particular on textile for building. Moreover, a cooperation agreement has been signed by the chairmand of the FENATEX, Abdelaziz Dahmani, the chairman of the UIT, Lucien Deveaux and the co-chairman of the UFIH, Freddy Marcy. With a duration of 3 years (renewable), this agreement aims at supporting vocational training and exchange of knowledge, so as to further innovative projects in the textile and apparel sector. Tunisia trying to regain the British market With a regular drop of export towards England, Tunisia has become its 18th supplier, though exports of T-shirts and working clothes have been growing recently. According to experts, to regain the British market, Tunisia should improve training, take interest in trends, promote Tunisian textile abroad, master the English language and culture, target at small and medium sizes salesmen... Promoting the quality of Euromediterranean textile and clothing Texmed trade show was also a good occasion to promote North-South and South-South cooperation, as well as Euromediterranean design. About thirty Euromediterranean young designers, who had arrived a week before the opening of the fair, could participate in a common project to create new models to exhibit during the show. participé à un projet commun pour proposer des modèles à exposer lors du salon. Another aim of their presence was to try to have them come closer to industrials so as to let possible partnership opportunities emerge. As regards the Agadir agreement, representatives from the FENATEX, the AMITH, the Egyptian chamber of textile industries and the Jordanian exporters association, signed officially the Tunis statement with its common professional body project for the private sector of the 4 countries. Finally, as last partnership agreement was signed by the CEDITH and the Arab Federation of Textile Industries (AFTI) with a duration of a year (renewable): promoting the image of the sector, exchanging information, trying to rebalance supply and demand... Sources: Webmanagercenter July 2d 2008, Tunis Afrique Presse June 20th 2008, Babnet June 20th 2008, Webmanagercenter June 19th 2008, Tunis Afrique Presse June 19th 2008, Business News June 17th 2008, Audinet Tunisie June 17th 2008, AfricanManager June 6th 2008 |