Over 400 delegates to attend World Textile conference

The 85th Textile Institute World Conference, a premier event in the global textile calendar will be held from March 1-3, 2007 at the Cinnamon Grand. It will attract over 400 delegates comprising policy makers, academics and industrialists from around the world.

"It is for the first time that this event is taking place in Sri Lanka. It will be an ideal occasion for the local textile industry to project its capabilities to the world", said Conference Chairman Prof. Lakdas Fernando. The conference will focus on the end-user, the consumer, satisfying the customer from fibre to fashion and design to delivery through knowledge of textiles and apparel. The conference is held under the sponsorship of the Textile Institute of UK.

The conference will not only be an opportunity to showcase what we can offer to the world but also capture new markets and increase sales of textile products in a competitive manner. With the GSP Plus coming in to play as an incentive, we should increase the volume of exports and develop the quality and standard of products.

Prof. Fernando said to host an event of this nature in Sri Lanka was not an easy task since we had to compete with giants in the global textile industry. Thus it is a rare occasion for all of us and we must make full use of it to enhance our product quality and market capabilities.

We had been working hard to host the event for a considerable period. The conference will be an encouragement to those in the textile industry to learn new products, designs, fashions, managerial skills, training and market products effectively, he said.

The conference will bring experts from around the world who will discuss a wide range of disciplines. It will attract industrialists and academics and provide an opportunity for networking with colleagues from around the globe who share similar challenges and goals, Prof. Fernando said.

Those involved in the textile industry or engaged in businesses related to the industry will benefit as the conference will include designers, marketers, academics, students, dyers, finishers, weavers, colourists, producers, technologists, distributors and those interested in the development of the global textile industry with whom ideas could be shared.

(LF)