HCM CITY — A wide range of technologies, equipment, products, and services used in the textile and garment industry are on display at the 18^th Vietnam International Textile & Garment Industry Exhibition (VTG 2018) and the Vietnam International Textile and Apparel Accessories Exhibition (VitaTex), which opened on Wednesday in HCM City.

They feature more than 500 exhibitors, including 100 brands from 13 countries and territories: Bangladesh, mainland China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, Turkey and Việt Nam.

Bao Lun, Hefeng, Richpeace, Sanxin, Tajima, and ZSK are displaying their latest embroidery machines, Bihong, Grafica, Han-Bond, Heinz Walz, Sansin, and Sulfet their printing machines, Beworth and Silk Road their latest flat knitting machines, and Vạn Sự Lợi its laser machine.

Many sewing machines brands from mainland China and Hong Kong such as Adler, Leman, Siruba and others are also present at the expo.

A number of seminars will be held on the sidelines on issues like the US - China trade war, a study of effective competitive strategy of garment company in Việt Nam, solutions for saving energy in the textile industry, automation, digitalization, and challenges facing the Việt Nam textile and garment industry.

VTG 2018 and VitaTex are being held concurrently with the Vietnam International Footwear Machinery and Material Exhibition and the 8th Asia International Dye Industry, Pigments and Textile Chemicals Exhibition (InterDye Asia 2018) at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre until Saturday.

According to the organisers, the garment and textile and footwear industries are two major export earners of Việt Nam and have great potential for further development thanks to the nation’s participation in many FTAs and advantages in terms of manufacturing and labour.

Việt Nam earned US$19.4 billion from garment and textile exports in the first nine months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 15 per cent, with the US, Japan, South Korea and China being the biggest markets.

Nguyễn Văn Khánh, deputy chairman of the HCM City Footwear Association, said: “Leather and footwear exports are expected to increase by 10-14 per cent this year to over $16 billion, meeting the export target.”

Businesses in the field have full order books for this year, he said.

Many companies from China, Japan and South Korea want to invest in the leather and footwear industry in Việt Nam, he said.

The expos are organised by Vinexad National Trade Fair & Advertising JSC, Yorkers Trade & Marketing Service Co Ltd, Guangdong Sewing Equipment Chamber Commerce and Paper Communication Exhibition Services, and the Hong Kong Apparel Machinery Association. — VNS