Pakistan-China Textiles B2B Investment Conference Successfully Held in Suzhou: Expanding Bilateral Cooperation to New Heights

5 December 2024 – The Pakistan-China Textile B2B Investment Conference was successfully held in Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, at a critical time when global supply chains are facing reshaping. The high-profile industry conference attracted more than 200 participants from both countries, including textile manufacturers, machinery and equipment providers, logistics and supply chain management experts, as well as policy makers and investors, highlighting the huge potential for cooperation between the textile industries of China and Pakistan.

Co-organised by the China Textile Industry Federation and the Pakistan Board of Investment, the conference aims to deepen industrial cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, promote regional economic integration, and explore the future direction of greening and upgrading the textile sector. The conference covers theme forums, exhibitions and high-level business dialogues, providing participants with opportunities for in-depth exchanges and negotiations.

China-Pakistan Textile Industry: Working Together to Meet Global Challenges

Arshad Sheikh, Chairman of Pakistan Investment Commission, pointed out at the opening ceremony: ‘Pakistan’s textile industry is accelerating its transformation and upgrading, and we need more support from international partners. China not only has the world’s leading textile technology, but also has significant advantages in market scale and supply chain integration. China and Pakistan textile industry through complementary advantages, is expected to jointly enhance the competitiveness of the global market.’

Meanwhile, Li Wen, president of China Textile Industry Federation (CTIF), said Pakistan’s abundant raw material resources, young and competitive labour force, and geographic advantages towards the European and Middle East markets are important factors attracting Chinese companies to invest. ‘We believe that through technology sharing and investment co-operation, China and Pakistan will not only be able to cope with the challenges of global economic uncertainty, but also lead green and intelligent changes in the textile industry.’

Highlights: Intelligent and Sustainable Future

During the conference, a number of high-end forums were in the spotlight. Among them, ‘Application and Prospect of Smart Textile Technology’ attracted a lot of attention. Participating experts discussed the in-depth application of artificial intelligence, big data and Internet of Things in textile manufacturing, and demonstrated how intelligence can improve production efficiency, reduce costs and shorten the cycle from design to market.

In addition, ‘Analysis of synergistic innovation and complementarity between China and Pakistan textile industries’ also triggered a lively discussion. Participants believed that Pakistan, with its cotton planting and processing capacity, can inject more quality resources into China’s textile supply chain; while China’s advanced textile machinery, innovative technologies and mature market channels will help Pakistani enterprises to enhance the added value of their products. Sustainable development is one of the important topics of this meeting. Both sides discussed green textile production, energy-saving dyeing technology and the use of renewable resources. The representative of Pakistan’s National Textile Technology Institute (NTTI) said, ‘China has accumulated a wealth of experience in the field of green manufacturing, which is crucial for Pakistan’s textile industry to realise environmental protection goals.’

Multiple Results: Signing Agreements and Exploring New Opportunities

A series of practical outcomes were reached at the conference, signalling a new level of textile co-operation between China and Pakistan. A number of important agreements were signed between the two countries in areas such as export of smart textile equipment, supply chain integration of high-end yarns and fabrics, and joint development of sustainable textile solutions. It is reported that these agreements are expected to bring more than 1 billion US dollars of direct investment in the next five years and create tens of thousands of jobs.

Meanwhile, China’s leading textile machinery manufacturer announced that it will set up a production base in Pakistan to provide customised solutions for the regional market, led by localised operations. Representatives of Pakistani textile enterprises said that they will use Chinese technology to improve productivity and develop high-end markets such as Europe and the Middle East.