Italian textile machinery manufacturers eye Uzbekistan

Following the institutional mission in Uzbekistan, organized by the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT), in October 2010 in partnership with the Italian Trade Commission, an Uzbek delegation comprising Government authorities and textile manufacturers recently visited Italy to meet with ACIMIT's top management. 

This meeting provided an opportunity to sign a memorandum of understanding and cooperation between ACIMIT and the Uzbek Textile Association. The agreement, which benefits from the approval of the Italian Trade Commission, sets up a framework for cooperation between Italy's textile technology providers and Uzbek textile manufacturers. 

"Uzbekistan has a centuries-old tradition in the processing of raw materials," explains Sandro Salmoiraghi, President of ACIMIT, "and it is the world's sixth largest producer of cotton. The country is currently undergoing a strong phase of industrialization, and in recent years its textile industry has begun a profound restructuring process for the transformation of raw materials domestically. Many current projects regard the building of industrial complexes requiring technologically advanced machinery." 

Italian textile machinery exports to Uzbekistan for 2010 amounted to an overall value of 2.4 million euros, with sales focused mostly on knitting machinery (66% of the total), other machinery (17%), spinning machinery (9%) and accessories (8%). 

The attention currently being paid by Italy's textile machinery sector to this market was apparent in the high number of Italian machinery manufacturers eager to meet with the Uzbek delegation over the two-day visit at ACIMIT's headquarters, which led to the signing of various sales agreements. 

"ACIMIT aims to support Italian businesses in emerging markets, including those with real potential such as Uzbekistan," stated Salmoiraghi. "In our encounters with our Uzbek counterparts, we have thus sought to present ourselves with structured offers, for instance with the involvement of the engineering firm Endeco, since the demand for turnkey production installations requires that bids be structured through businesses with specific expertise in this field."