It gives me great pleasure to learn that the third "International Garment, Textiles and Leather Machinery & Accessories Exhibitions" - "IGATEX 2004" is taking place in Pakistan.
This event is assuming importance for our textile industry as it gives them an opportunity, at their doorstep, to keep abreast of the technological innovations taking place in the textile machinery around the world.
Such exhibitions have helped our exporters in selecting the machineries best suited for them.
Over the last few years our textile industry has invested heavily in the BMR (Balancing, Modernisation and Replacement) to increase its competitiveness through quality and productivity improvement.
The Textile and Clothing Sector is the backbone of our economy. It will now face emerging challenges due to the elimination of textile quota in year-end 2004.
This will also provide new opportunities for our industry provided we keep pace with the global changes taking place in this sector.
In order to meet these challenges it is imperative that we keep ourselves abreast of the latest technological developments to take maximum advantages.
IGATEX will certainly keep our exporters updated about such developments. With Government - Private Sector co-operation, I foresee our textile exports crossing the US $10 Billion mark.
I welcome all the participants to this show and hope that this exhibition will be a success both for the exhibitors and exporters.