DurakTekstil is gearing up toshowcase its technical threads focusing on security and efficiency solutionsatTechnotextil 2024.

As a leading producer of industrial sewing and embroidery threads, DurakTekstil will present its innovative and environmentally friendly products at the event, which will be held from Sep03–05 at Crocus Expo in Moscow.

YiğitDurak, Director-Marketing, DurakTekstil, highlights, Technotextilis a growing platform for the technical textiles and work safety industries. The event has immense potential for the Russian market and for regions such as Eastern Europe, the Baltics, the Caucasus, and Central Asia, he adds.

At the event, DurakTekstilwill also host motivational talks on valuable applications. Visitors can closely inspect and obtain detailed technical information about a variety of threads, including flame-retardant aramid and highly cut-resistant knitting threads, tailored for the work safety industry.

DurakTekstil will display a rich range of products with various functional features at the event. Notable amongst these include SilverPro, a high-conductivity sewing and embroidery thread, and natural sewing thread that repels insects.

Other products to be showcased include Bug-Safe sewing thread, invisible infrared laser beam-resistant sewing thread, Polystrong IR Teflon alloy, extremely heat-resistant sewing thread Teflofil, water-soluble sewing thread Polystrong Laser-Safe Melt hydromelt, and flame-retardant and cut-resistant threads, both para- and meta-aramid.

In addition to these, visitors can explore UV-protected threads, water-repellent items, anti-static threads that discharge static energy, and anti-bacterial sewing threads. The duma bottom thread by DurakTekstil requires three times as much thread as other bobbin threads of the same size, resulting in a 15 per centincrease in production.

Noting that technical threads are increasingly prominent in their product assortment, Durakemphasises on the company’s strong production and marketing foundations, boosted by strategic investments. Their newly reorganised R&D division is working on several promising initiatives, launching numerous firsts for sustainable products and technical threads.

Durak notes, technical textile items currently constitute 20 per cent of the comapany’ssales, with a goal to increase this percentage in the short and medium term through successful initiatives and innovative products.

Described as the worst since Bangladesh's independence in 1971, the current political turmoil in Bangladesh threatens to disrupt supply chains and production schedules for Indian textile companies operating in the neighboring country, says ChandrimaChatterjee, Secretary General, CITI. The country's impressive growth in the textile sector has strengthened trade flows across the subcontinent, she adds.

The domestic textile industry fears, disruptions in Bangladesh could lead to delays and shortages, forcing Indian companies to seek alternative manufacturing solutions. As a result, there is a noticeable shift toward other manufacturing hubs, with Tirruppur, a major Indian textile center, potentially benefiting from this realignment.

Amid widespread anti-government protests, Bangladesh is experiencing severe unrest, with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina stepping down. Army Chief General Waqar-uz-Zaman has announced the formation of an interim government to take over duties.

Pointing out the broader implications for global supply chains, Chatterjee warns, major international brands that rely on Bangladesh for sourcing may face delays and reduced product availability, further impacting inventory levels and sales worldwide.

Pakistani entrepreneurs investing in Bangladesh's textile sector have expressed increased concerns about the recent turmoil and unrest in the country, fearing instability similar to that in Pakistan. The prospect of martial law in Bangladesh heightens these concerns, potentially jeopardising the stability that attracted these investors in the first place.

In recent years, several Pakistani textile entrepreneurs relocated their operations to Bangladesh. The move was motivated by lower production costs, preferential trade agreements, and superior infrastructure. The world's second-largest apparel exporter after China, Bangladesh has been steadily gaining market share as Western sanctions have hit Chinese exports. Many Pakistani firms, particularly in home textiles and readymade garments, have capitalised on Bangladesh's strategic advantages, reducing production costs by nearly 50 per cent.

Among the notable companies that set up operations in Bangladesh includeSoorty Enterprises, which invested $35 million in a garment factory employing around 6,000 Bangladeshis, and Interloop. Other significant names include Pak Denim, Crescent Textile Mills, Gul Ahmed Textile Mills, Kohinoor Textile Mills, Al-Karam Textile Mills, Nishat Mills (part of the Nishat Group), Artistic Milliners, and Masood Textile Mills.

These companies benefited from Bangladesh's lower labor costs and favorable trade agreements with the European Union and the United States, which offer better market access and lower tariffs compared to Pakistan. Despite Pakistan being granted GSP+ status by the EU in 2013, Bangladesh's economic incentives made it a more attractive destination for Pakistani firms seeking to maximise profits.

However, Muhammad Jawed Balwani, Chairman, Pakistan Apparel Forum, notes, while prominent companies like Soorty and Interloopcontinue to operate successfully in Bangladesh, the political climate under former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina was not always welcoming, as her policies were seen as pro-India. The new military government would be more favorable toward Pakistani investors, he hopes.

Rising production costs and stagnant textile exports are making survival difficult for the power loom industry in Karachi, Pakistan. The past two and half years have been particularly challenging for the sector as economic activities in the country slowed down. The introduction of heavy taxation measures in the budget for the current financial year has further worsened the situation. Threatening to further weaken the sector, these measures could potentially lead to the closure of small and medium-sized businesses, warn experts.

Expressing his disappointment over the government’s lack of commitment to economic and industrial development TabbasumHussain, Secretary General, Power Looms Association in Karachi, says, the power loom industry plays a critical role in generating revenue and creating employment opportunities. Shutting down these looms would not only deprive the government of a valuable revenue stream but also result in massive job losses, he warns.

Hussain urges Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Commerce Minister Jam Kamal to reconsider the taxes, electricity, and gas rates. It is essential to reduce these costs is essential to keep the sector operational. The government should also revise the taxation policy to ensure smooth functioning of these power looms to prevent further economic decline, he emphasises.