The corona virus outbreak has become a serious health crisis worldwide which everyone is experiencing. The effects of the corona virus (COVID-19) are currently a particularly challenging situation of economy for global as well as for Pakistan. Pakistan’s economy is projected to face a loss of up to 4.64% of gross domestic product (GDP) because of disruptions in trade, both imports and exports, after the outbreak of COVID-19.
The effects have likewise caused major influence on entire trade fair and event industry. In view of the earlier developments in March, the government has specified measures that also includes the ban on events and public gatherings. However, “The situation will be reviewed by Government on ban after three weeks” Chief Minister Sindh said.
IGATEX PAKISTAN attracts leading companies of the Textile and Garment supplies industry from around the world. In view of the current situation pertaining to the rise of Coronavirus pandemic globally involving health hazards, traveling restrictions and constraints of movement, large-scale economic damage, and other adverse factors; IGATEX PAKISTAN is positive to be realized in 2021.
The organizer FAKT Exhibitions is instead working on a new time-slot beyond 2020. The approach is agreed upon by the organizer of the South East Asia premier trade show for Garment and Textile industry – IGATEX PAKISTAN after careful assessment of the current situation “The majority of companies are finding themselves to cope up this crises mode soon by end of this year and certainly standing by position to showcase their products and services at trade fair 2021” says Saleem Khan Tanoli, CEO of FAKT Exhibitions; and in consultation with its local supporting bodies and partners, and with stakeholders of the industry.
During the recent week, we have seen stabilizing state in major European and Asian countries with the number of new cases beginning to decline. More countries are persistent to consider relaxing restrictions which suggest that private and public travel and public events should incrementally be re-introduced.
Together with the advisory board along with organizer, a shift to spring Mid-March 2021 is the most appropriate time to re-scheduling the event IGATEX PAKISTAN. We have so far affirmed booking of 724 booths occur in 4 halls of Expo Centre Lahore having topmost participants from Germany, Italy, Japan, China, Belgium, Spain, Switzerland, USA and many more.
As a positive sign, most exhibitions and trade shows in European countries scheduled to be held during late August have not been cancelled and will proceed as planned.
Persistently, FESPA Global Print Expo is Europe’s largest international specialty print exhibition. The event will be open from the October 2020 at Spain. As Spain Government has given ease in lockdown according to news published on 14 April “MADRID – Spain, one of the country’s worst hit by the coronavirus epidemic, restarting some sectors. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Sunday that “the decision to restart some sectors was taken after consulting a committee of experts. Any further winding down would depend on gains made against the virus”, he added.
In continuing, INTERPACK and DRUPA which are leading international trade fair of Packaging and Printing technologies organized by Messe Dusseldorf, Germany will have held in February and April 2021 respectively. Sabine Geldermann, Director of Drupa and Global Head Print Technologies, shared her views while interviewing concerned community response towards new date of Drupa “As in other industries, the printing industry is feeling the effects of this in the form of short-time work, production downtime and supply bottlenecks – on a national and global level. In this situation, however, the health and protection of employees and partners takes precedence. The reaction of our international customers and partners to the postponement was therefore consistently positive and met with great understanding and acceptance,” she further added “we will now take every possible measure to meet the expectations of our global customers in April 2021 – let’s embrace the future in 2021 together!”
Germany has taken measures eased last week, leading to an increase in social activity that has worried some health authorities. Masks to be mandatory in shops and on public transport from 27 April.
In recent days, many countries with their government have implemented relative measures to awake their industries like Italy, Switzerland, Turkey and Dubai. Up to now, Italy aims to restarts manufacturing as soon as 4 May. As Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said “We all want the country to restart”.
Switzerland has opened some business such as approved hairdresser and flower shops but next stage begins 11 May when primary school children return to school and all retail stores reopen.
ITM Turkey will now be scheduled to take place in June 2021. Turkey is among the largest manufacturers of nonwoven fabrics and sanitary outfits thanks to its strong infrastructure for the production of textiles, garments and nonwovens. The ITM and HIGHTEX Project Group stated for this reason “our exhibitions will provide great opportunities for the global and Turkish textile industries, which we expect to will gain momentum after the coronavirus outbreak.”
Turkish industrial companies are resuming production amid slow infection spread and easing of restrictions around the world. According to data compiled by Anadolu Agency from Public Disclosure Platform (KAP), as many as 16 companies, which are listed in Borsa Istanbul, either have or will restart operations in the first week of May.
In doing so, Dubai UAE have announced to reopen with precautionary measures “Once the reopening is announced, businesses can reopen after they have complied with the guidelines & protocols and ready to receive customer’s/resume operations,” the circular released by the Government of Dubai read,
Correspondingly, DTG Dhaka Int’l Textile and Garment Machinery Exhibition will held in late January, 2021. The situation in Bangladesh seems to stable as the news published on 27 April given ease in lockdown identified; Bangladesh garment factories reopen, defying virus lockdown to reopen on Sunday, “We have to accept coronavirus as part of life. If we don’t open factories, there will be economic crisis,” said Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association vice president Mohammad Hatem.
Moving around the globe, India flight operations are most likely to be resume expected sometime in June after lifting the lockdown in India. According to the latest news published in The Economic Times “The technical committee consists of airport and airline officials, doctors and government bureaucrats are formulating standard operating procedures (SOP) for passengers and flight staff and will soon come out with its recommendations after normal life resumes”.
Further across the nation, in earlier April Pakistan has recommence businesses to reopen its factories in Punjab after receiving a notification issued by The Punjab Home Department. The decision was taken to curb financial losses and unemployment for thousands of daily wage workers.
Following the government’s announcement to also exempt the textile industry from lockdown in view of providing financial relief to the workers. PRGMEA Regional Chairman Sohail A Sheikh and Chief Coordinator Ijaz Khokhar, in a joint statement issued on 7th April Tuesday, assured the government of chalking out the standard operating procedures regarding health and hygiene of workers, ensuring the government to implement them at all industry units strictly.
Up to now, domestic textile mills are gradually resuming productivity in accordance with the policies of government. “Covid-19 was a black swan event for textile industry which no one could have predicted.” said Salim Ghori, the CEO of Elite Denim Mills in an interview to Gwadar Pro.
Recently, Sindh Govt. issues SOPs to resume businesses during coronavirus lockdown. A prior list of the shop owners, staffers and delivery boys working at the business place should be provided to the provincial government while all preventive material including hand gloves, sanitizers be provided to them. The orders shall be followed from April 27.
Also, according to Managing Director Kai Hattendorf, UFI – The Global Association of Exhibition Industry:
The crisis is making our sense of unity even stronger and motivating the industry to pull together, out of all regions Asia may resume with events first.
Moreover, the industry and exhibitor’s insights for placing next IGATEX PAKISTAN resulted turned out positively for March 2021 most preferable.
As such, FAKT Exhibitions is precisely optimistic that the event IGATEX PAKISTAN in first quarter of 2021 could possibly go ahead, as scheduled, dependent on the improving conditions. Meanwhile, we are working closely with the local associations, representatives of industry, the venue in Lahore, airline companies and supporting partners to provide best arrangements and operations to facilitate our exhibitors and visitors.
“The ultimate objective is to defer the virus as much as possible and creating this a key opportunity for our industry to band together bringing the positive impact we can make on our nation” says Saleem Tanoli, CEO of FAKT Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd.
We believe that these new dates will allow our exhibitors, visitors and partners to project themselves with more serenity in the organization of their participation while guaranteeing them a healthy and favorable environment for meetings and exchanges, with the aim of being a real business accelerator.
