Milan - More than 20 ACIMIT members, including key suppliers to the South American knitting sector, will take part in next month's Colombiatex show in Medellin, Colombia.

The exhibition takes place from 23 to 25 January 2024 with the Italian textile machinery association hosting a country pavilion in conjunction with the Italian Trade Agency.

According to ACIMIT, the Colombian textile and clothing industry has experienced significant growth in recent years. Consequently, imports of textile machinery have also increased.

In 2023, Colombian imports are expected to reach €58 million while for the period 2024-2027, the country’s import growth is projected to be an average of 2.2% annually, according to data compiled by ACIMIT.

Italy has long been a technological partner for Colombian textile companies that have invested in the modernisation of the production process. Italian exports to Colombia in 2022 exceeded 18 million (a 50% increase from the previous year). In the first six months of 2023, Italian exports to Colombia reached €9 million.

Marco Salvadè, ACIMIT president said: "The consistent presence of Italian companies at last editions of Colombiatex testifies how our sector is a privileged partner in assisting Colombian textiles in their path of qualitative growth. “ACIMIT is committed to creating opportunities for meetings between Italian manufacturers and Colombian textile companies. We have done this frequently, organising various business missions in Italy in collaboration with Italian Trade Agency. The most recent one allowed selected Colombian textile operators to visit the last ITMA Milan.”

Amongst the other featured companies will be LGL, Lonati, Santoni and BTSR.

Other texitle machine suppliers from across the supply chain will include, Color Service, Danti, Fadis, Flainox, Isotex, Itema, Kairos Engineering, Mcs, Monti-Mac, Nexia, Orox, Ratti, Reggiani Macchine, Salvadè, Srs, Stalam, Tecnorama and Ugolini.