Belt and Road Textile Conference 2019
Focusing on the international layout of the industry for “Textile Together － a community of shared future”
Nov 11, 2019 ｜ by CT
Belt and Road Textile Conference 2019 convened on October 17th has received wide attention from all walks of life around the world, attracting over 600 participants from 24 countries and regions to get together in Shengze Town, Jiangsu Province, including more than 100 international guests, to jointly explore and witness the opportunities for the textile and garment industry in the region to move towards prosperity.
Sponsored by China National Textile and Apparel Council (CNTAC), the conference was jointly organized by Marketing Department of CNTAC, International Trade Office of CNTAC, the Sub-Council of Textile Industry, CCPIT (CCPIT TEX), China Textile International Exchange Center and China Textile Go Global Union. It was also co-organized by People’s Government of Shengze Town and the Management Committee of Eastern Silk Market China, and specially supported by Jiangsu Textile Association and Donghua University. The conference was presided over by Mr. Liang Pengcheng, Director General of Marketing Department, CNTAC and Executive Vice Chairman of CCPIT TEX.
Great achievements
China’s textile and garment industry, as one of China’s most internationally competitive industries, has been playing a pioneering and exemplary role in the Belt and Road Initiative, making remarkable achievements in cooperation. CNTAC, as a unique bridge, also contributed constructive efforts to the great cause of building the “Belt and Road”. Mr. Xu Yingxin, Vice President of CNTAC, and Chairman CCPIT TEX, said in his welcome address that the purpose of this conference is to systematically summarize the achievements of China’s textile industry which is rooted in China but integrating the world. On the other hand, it is also to build a consensus, together with the governments, industry organizations and enterprises of the countries along the Belt and Road, on how to better promote the mutually beneficial trade and investment cooperation of the textile and garment industry in the region.
As a representative from the region, Shengze always adheres to the development concept of openness and integration. With an orientation of ecological and sustainable development, Shengze actively serves the Belt and Road construction to advance the diversified exchanges and cooperation between Shengze and the countries and regions along the Belt and Road. Mr. Wang Yibing, Party Standing Committee Member of Wujiang District, believed that the success of this conference will start a dialogue mechanism of the textile and garment industry among Lancang-Mekong countries. “We hope that Chinese and overseas textile enterprises can share the deep sense of cooperation in the new era under this opportunity, and strive for a sustainable development. Together, cooperation and efforts will build a bright future for the industry.”
Mr. Chen Yanbin, Director General of the Office of the Leading Group for Promoting the Belt and Road Initiative, National Development and Reform Commission of China, summed up the achievements of the Belt and Road Initiative since its inception. Everyone engaged in the global textile industry are expected to work hard to contribute to “building a community of shared future”.
Better way forward
Coordinated development of textile industry at home and abroad is of great significance. Ms. Cao Xuejun, Deputy Director General of Department of Consumer Goods Industry, Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, put out the following suggestions: First, it is to deepen international cooperation and form a group of multinational textile groups with global layout. Second, it is recommended to strengthen domestic and international collaboration in R&D and design, industrial chain organization, new technology application, and new market cultivation. The third is to promote international production capacity cooperation in a safe and orderly manner, creating a better business environment for the international development of industries and enterprises.
Mr. Zhang Liang, Deputy Director of Department of Outward Investment and Economic Cooperation, Ministry of Commerce of China, analyzed the opportunities and challenges of China’s outward investment under the new situation at home and abroad. He also stressed that it is a common expectation of investors from all countries to seize opportunities, meet challenges and seek new developments in international investment cooperation.
Mr. Gao Yong, Secretary General of CNTAC, delivered a keynote speech focusing on how to lead the higher quality cooperation in textile and garment industry along the B&R countries. For the next step in the layout of China’s textile industry along the “Belt and Road”, he said that the layout should be re-arranged with in-depth planning under the guidance of national initiatives and policies. A high-quality, active “going global” shall gradually replace the relatively passive one in the past. Meanwhile, he also stated that it is be necessary to bring the development ideas and experience accumulated by the Chinese textile and garment industry over the past 40 years to the investment countries along the “Belt and Road”. And it is required to have a better understanding of the investment environment, compare investment advantages, and support each other in overseas investment, jointly promoting economic development.
Integrated collaboration
In the practice of the Belt and Road Initiative, chains integration plays an essential role in realizing the enterprise’s reform, transformation and development. Mr. Tong Jisheng, Chairman of Oriental International (Holding) Co., Ltd., shared their experiences in carrying out “global layout and transnational operation” transformation to make a layout along the Belt and Road in recent years. He advised that Chinese people engaged in textile industry should be clear-headed in the development direction and general trend of the world textile industry, with a broad vision, a big pattern and a big mind, driving China from a large textile country to a textile power.
In terms of global fashion industry, Ms. Queennie Yang, China Editorial Director of The Business of Fashion, talked about the trends on different levels of macroeconomics, consumer trends, fashion industry systems and value chains. Based on current industry trends, she also looked into the future development direction, and interpreted the opportunities and challenges of China’s fashion industry and brand in response to the transformation. According to her, fashion enterprises should not only have a keen sense of the harsh economic environment, but also clearly grasp the trend of consumption and the change of the trend of the entire fashion system. Fashion brands must fundamentally adopt a purpose-oriented development strategy to attract consumers and talents.
With regarding to investment opportunities, regional selection is crucial. Mr. Andy Tiana Ravalomanda, General Director of the Economic Development Board of Madagascar, introduced the geographical advantages, investment environment, development history and current situation of Madagascar with the theme of “Investment Opportunities in the Textile and Garment Industry of Madagascar”. He demonstrated Madagascar’s strong attraction to Chinese investors through a series of data, and shared the development prospects of the textile industry in the current international environment. According to him, with the growth of population, rising global purchasing power and changes in consumer habits, global textile and apparel market is growing strongly. Madagascar is now one of the most attractive textile and garment producing countries in the world. It is expected that increasingly more Chinese textile and apparel companies will enter the Madagascar market, and the Madagascar government and industry organizations will also provide investment companies with services through multiple channels.
Highlight: Release on “Investment Guide for Textile and Garment Industry to Key Participating Countries along the Belt and Road”
At the conference, the “Investment Guide for Textile and Garment Industry to Key Participating Countries along the Belt and Road” was released. The first release of 8 countries were also officially issued, including Egypt, Ethiopia, Cambodia, Kenya, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. The Guide details the basic profiles of the countries, the textile industry foundation, the production factors, the policy environment, the investment direction recommendations, and some investment cases of Chinese textile enterprises, which provide authoritative reference materials to the Chinese textile and garment enterprises.
