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Panel Discussion Day 2 – What are the key global development has its own significance. Also, they
trends steering the textile industry? need to focus on transparent business model since
it’s an ecommerce era and transparency is the key to
[Mr Haroon Ellahi Sheikh-moderator (Director Nagina building trust. Mr Amjad Baig talked about
Group), Mr Jos Noterman (SPGPrints B.V., The opportunities to embrace digital technologies
Netherlands), Mr Ralf Muller (Sales Manager through innovation and corporate venturing to cover
Trutzschler), Mr Khurram Iqbal (CEO GS Group), Dr the gaps and take advantage and integrate these
Muhammad Tauseef (Academic and Applied technologies in existing or new business. He stated
Researcher University of Leeds, United Kingdom), Mr that our industry should decide whether to be on a
Amjad Baig (Textile Consultant)] cost leadership business model and take advantage
of the economies of scale or take advantage of the
In the panel discussion Mr Ralf Muller told that the new technologies and serve the niche markets and
demand is shifting from productivity to automation. gradually build it. New economy demands new
Since the labor cost is increasing clients are strategy and modified operations. Outdated
demanding machines with more automation and infrastructure cannot meet the demands of new
industry 4.0. Mr Jos Notermans added high quality economy. Furthermore, Mr Khurram Iqbal shed light
digital printing is demanded on high quality fabric on global cotton production and its global challenges
rather than a low quality or cheaper fabric. In further from supply chain perspective. He explained that

global access. Stakeholders with good insight make international and local textile stakeholders can make
profit and others go bankrupt. Over the years local propositions for the prosperity of textile industry and
industry has come down to 400-500 spinning mills the government, after careful consideration can bring
from 1000. Spinning industrialists need to take them into motion.
adoptive measures and proper risk management. He
spoke about global production surges in near future. Mr Anees Khawaja (Director Mahmood Group of
Chinese reserves are low and at some point the Companies) acknowledged the significance of the
China may be entering spinning to replenish their conference and how imperative it was for all the
stocks which will have a huge impact on Pakistan stakeholders to forgather and discuss solutions for
textile industry. Since China is also feeling the heat of the imminent challenges.
US and China trade war, to take their command back
into the world cotton pricing they might enter the Mr Haroon Ellahi Sheikh (Director Nagina Group)
market and if they buy more than half of the stocks congratulated TEXtalks for such a successful event.
the prices will go up which will have a direct impact He said that for the first time in Pakistan such an
on Pakistan textile industry which can go either ways initiative was taken at such altitude, with active
keeping in mind the Xinjiang Project. participation from the government, proving itself
advantageous for the local industry and that it will
Closing the conference, Mr Yousaf Fareed, Editor in play a key role in policy making in the future which is
chief of TEXtalks International, expressed his the need of hour.
gratitude to the sponsors, key speakers and
participants who made this conference a success. For TEXtalks, it was a learned experience. The team
TEXtalks put all the efforts to bring together all the
discussion, Dr Tauseef said the local textile industry textile begins with fibers, May it be manmade or In his feedback Mr Hassan Iqbal (Federal Secretary key stake holders on one platform to discuss and
needs to understand the key difference between cotton. Buying patterns are crucial when it comes to for Textile Division, Govt of Pakistan) remarked that find the solutions for upcoming challenges. We look
research and development and product cotton since its 70% of the cost. In the last 10 years the suggestions provided in the conference will be forward to host the next session in the following year
development. The local textile industry is focusing the pattern has changed from fixed prices to contemplated in the making of forthcoming policies. with higher dedication to make it more fruitful for
more on product development when research and fluctuating trend because of digitalization and easy Such platforms should be held frequently so that the industry.

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