Page 14 - TEXtalks. January-February 2023

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Inditex agrees to a 20% pay rise in Spain, Heimtextil 2023 ends with great

and in some regions might increase by 40% internationality and sets the course

Zara owner Inditex saw its go down as the markets Inditex though known more as Zara's owner also
closed for the weekend on Friday after it agreed to owns other famous brands that include owns eight for sustainable transformation
increase the wages of its entire workforce in Spain. brands Massimo Dutti, Pull & Bear, and Bershka
that it markets in Spain.
The increase was announced a day earlier on
Thursday after pressure from Spain’s two unions Spanish retailers including supermarket chains
the CCOO and UGT. In fact, they claimed that have also increased wages but limited pay rises to
salaries in some regions of Spain might increase by the level of inflation, though Japanese Fast Retailing
up to 40 percent. The next day Inditex of 4.7 Co, owner of Uniqlo, increase wages by up to 40
percent the next day. percent in January.

Of the total workforce of 165000 that Inditex Fashion retailers are under the pressure to retain
employs in 177 countries, a third of its workers are young talent that is in short supply. The wage
based in Spain. Inditex has a women-dominated increase is about 9.7 percent of its operating cost
workforce in its 6477 shops which account for 86 which amounts to around 167 million euros per Streams of visitors from all over the world, intensive decorative cushions. The top ten exhibiting countries
percent of its worker's strength. year. business encounters with top international were China, India, Turkey, Pakistan, Italy, Germany,
decision-makers, an overwhelmingly positive Spain, Portugal, France, and Great Britain. The top
atmosphere and inspiration as far as the eye can visitor countries included Germany, Italy, Turkey, the
see: With 44,000 visitors and 2,400 exhibitors United States, Great Britain, France, the
together from 129 nations, the global textile industry Netherlands, Spain, Pakistan, India, and Greece.
was guest in Frankfurt for four days at Heimtextil
Role of E-commerce in the growth of 2023 and filled the exhibition halls. In numerous "Heimtextil made a powerful return to January and
workshops, tours, lectures, and networking formats,
set all the signs for success as a barometer for the
buyers also explored circular approaches, the
trade fair business year - with an outstanding degree
the textile industry important role of certificates, and new applications of internationalization of 129 participating nations,"
said Detlef Braun, Member of the Executive Board of
for textile materials - and thus experienced wholly
Messe Frankfurt. Compared to 2020, the leading
integrated sustainability at Heimtextil.
trade fair for home and contract textiles achieved an
E-commerce has emerged as another avenue for increasing its textile exports as this platform has earlier More than 260 Pakistani companies participated at increase in the degree of internationalization - in
largely been ignored by the textile sector. An awareness session at the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association Heimtextil 2023, making it a historic participation that terms of exhibitors to 94 percent and in terms of
(APTMA) enlightened the textile millers in this regard. placed Pakistan fourth in place internationally at the visitors to 82 percent. There was growth on the
event after China, India, and Turkey. According to exhibitor side compared to the pre-pandemic edition
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) MindWhiz, Shah Hassan made a detailed presentation to the APTMA representative surveys, 80 percent of exhibitors had from Turkey and Pakistan. In 2023, there were also
members on ways to increase exports through international e-commerce platforms. He revealed that the already achieved their trade show goals by the third more buyers from Italy, Turkey, Spain, and especially
global market volume is over $600 billion with China as the top e-commerce global exporter. He also day. Satisfaction with visitor quality was also very Greece.
pointed out that despite low-value exports Pakistan is ranked as the third top country having the highest high: 72 percent of visitors were top
number of sellers after the USA and China. decision-makers. "The outstanding internationality proves: In times of
geopolitical challenges, Heimtextil is the most
He said e-commerce platforms facilitate the exporter to establish brands that otherwise are very expensive Heimtextil 2023 ended with concentrated important place-to-be for the global home textiles
in normal trade. Since there are no middlemen involved the seller can operate with high-profit margins of intercontinental strength and set the course for a industry - both for new business contacts and
over 46 percent through e-commerce. successful trade fair year. 44,000 buyers took market opportunities as well as for the redefinition of
advantage of the opportunity to participate in the supply chains and important cooperations to
Vice Chairman APTMA Asad Shafi was optimistic Pakistan could add $6 billion in its textile exports through global market for home and contract textiles and to overcome production bottlenecks," Braun continued.
Amazon which would still be only one percent of its total turnover. He informed Patron-in-Chief that APTMA gain a bundled overview of global textile innovations
Gohar Ejaz has given the plan to utilize surplus yarn and fabric valuing about $3 billion in a local production - from fibers, yarns, upholstery and decorative Finally, a return to new global contacts, networking,
of garments and other value-added textile products. The textile sector plans to establish 1000 garment units fabrics, functional textiles, outdoor fabrics, artificial and ordering: personal encounters were at the heart
to achieve this aim. He hoped the stitching revolution and normal BMR will uplift total textile exports to $50 leather, and wallpapers to bed and bathroom of Heimtextil 2023 and were celebrated in full
billion in the next five years. textiles, mattresses, sleep systems, curtains, and exhibition halls.

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