Once at the heart of the Silk Road trade route, the Zandajan district in western Herat province in Afghanistan has a long tradition of producing silk used to weave carpets and silk due to abundance of mulberry bushes has become a major centre for cultivating silkworms, according to residents. However, the silkworm industry, a 2000 years old tradition, had been on the decline in the past in Zandajan, but with the help of some foreign NGOs was rescued and strengthened. Besides women, men als

India’s technical textile and nonwoven industry continues to be one of the fastest growing sectors within the textile industry. Now in its 6th edition, Techtextil India continues to bring forward the latest technology in technical textile, nonwoven and garment machinery and is scheduled to take place from 13 – 15 September 2017 at Bombay Convention and Exhibition Centre. Bookings for Techtextil India has already intensified and international contingents from countries like Germany, China, Kor

Textile finishers in Brazil should take heed of local consumers’ demand for complex and colourful design in fabrics, traders at SAARA, Rio de Janeiro’s biggest open-air market, have told us. Grassroots interviews at this market in the city’s historic centre said Brazil’s mass market fabric tastes eschew simplicity – the market, originally founded by immigrants at the end of the 19th century, is a medley of shopfronts selling everything from sports equipment and beach chairs to makeup and plas

The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) Punjab Chairman Syed Ali Ahsan has rejected the unilateral and sudden reduction in system gas supply by the SNGPL. The SNGPL has reduced the system gas supply to 28 percent from 35 percent with effect from September 1, 2017 on account of fast approaching of winter. The Aptma Punjab chief said a sudden and unilateral reduction of system gas by 30 mmcfd is worrisome when already 35 to 40 percent of the industrial capacity has been closed down d

Following State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to Beijing in May, the Myanmar government is urged to form a Belt and Road taskforce. Photo: EPA From tackling illegal border trade to constructing Kyaukphyu SEZ, the to-do list for Belt and Road in Myanmar is very long. THE Myanmar government is urged to take a proactive role and form a taskforce to carve out its involvement in China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). An adviser to the National League for Democracy-led government stre

Technavio has published a new report, which states that the superhydrophobic coatings market is set for impressive growth through to the year 2021. Entitled Global Superhydrophobic Coatings Market 2017-2021, the report projects the market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 33% between 2017 and 2021, making for strong growth over the forecast period. According to Technavio, the study covered the present superhydrophobic coatings market and its growth prospects, and lists

Ethiopia, east Africa's largest economy and most populous at 100 million people, is pursuing an ambitious industrialization development strategy. One of the main parts of Ethiopia's industrialization drive is the textile and garment sector, which the government hopes will substantially boost export revenue while creating mass employment opportunities for Ethiopians. Ethiopia's aim to earn 1 billion U.S. dollars from textile and garment production in several years' time may seem too ambitio

India’s cotton yarn exports have declined by 9.79 per cent in the April–July period of the current financial year due to slow pick up from China and Bangladesh, the two large destinations comprising around 50 per cent of overall shipments from India. Data compiled by the apex industry body Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (Texprocil) showed India’s cotton yarn exports stood at 283.18 kgs for the first four months of FY18. In terms of value, however, India’s total cotton yarn exports s

Textile companies are expecting a revival in their fortunes in July-September on a rebound in customer footfalls and restocking by traders following GST (goods and services tax) compliance. Profit margins of textile firms remained under pressure in the first quarter of the current financial year due to traders’ destocking ahead of the GST implementation effective July 1. Primary textile players had stocks returned to them amid fears of the GST’s burden on unsold inventory. Not only small pla

With a view to strengthen the connections between textile and apparel firms and suppliers, partners and experts from the cotton sector, Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam will host Cotton Day 2017 on September 12. The event will give enterprises an opportunity to learn about cotton demand around the world and consumption trends of various brands. Cotton Day is being organised by the Vietnam Textile and Garment Association (VITAS) and the Cotton Council International (CCI). A conference will take pla