“We are very happy about this excellent cooperation between us as a trade fair organizer and the Pakistani companies”
Messe Frankfurt is the world’s largest trade fair, congress and event organiser with its own exhibition grounds. They have been active in the international trade fair business, both in Frankfurt and worldwide, for some 800 years. Messe Frankfurt’s programme of trade fairs, congresses and other events are extremely comprehensive with highest quality standards. TEXtalks is pleased to present an exclusive interview of Mr. Olaf Schmidt, Vice President Textiles and Textile Technologies, Messe Frankfurt on the occasion of 70 years friendship between Germany and Pakistan for the interest of our readers.
TEXtalks: Germany and Pakistan are celebrating 70 years of friendship, what would you say?
Olaf Schmidt: In the textile business – probably more than in any other industrial sector – the partnership between Germany and Pakistan has grown over decades. Whether in apparal fabrics, fashion or home textiles, Pakistan has a strong name as a textile nation and stands for competence, experience and quality in textile production.
TEXtalks: How does the German expo industry contribute to the advancement of the textile industry in Pakistan?
Olaf Schmidt: Pakistan has traditionally been strongly represented at our international textile and fashion fairs. For example, 230 Pakistani companies were represented at the last edition of Heimtextil in 2020. This made Pakistan the fourth largest exhibiting nation. We at Heimtextil warmly welcome the participation of Pakistani companies. Last time, we have supported the Sustainable Pakistan initiative to promote innovative and sustainable producers from Pakistan which is a great example for the long-term partnership between Messe Frankfurt and the Pakistani industry.
TEXtalks: Pakistan is a potential market, how do you see to increase the outreach of Pakistani companies in German exhibitions?
Olaf Schmidt: At our leading international trade fairs, such as Heimtextil, Techtextil and Texprocess in Frankfurt, or the Intertextile Shanghai and Texworld in Paris and New York, we give globally active textile companies an eye-catching platform to present themselves to international buyers and designers in a high-class environment. Over the past decades, more and more companies from Pakistan have recognized the international sales opportunities offered by our trade fairs. We are very happy about this excellent cooperation between us as a trade fair organizer and the Pakistani companies.
TEXtalks: Any special comments / messages to the readers on the 70th Friendship Anniversary?
Olaf Schmidt: We very much hope that there will be a reunion at our textile fairs with the Pakistani companies very soon, especially since the Pakistani textile industry is of huge importance for our fairs and for the international industry.
