FAIRS

Luís Almeida Professor of

Engineering

I had the opportunity to visit the TECHTEXTIL / TEXPROCESS / HEIMTEXTIL fairs in Frankfurt. After a long break due to the pandemic, Messe Frankfurt has invested heavily in holding these three fairs together, about which I would like to highlight some aspects. First of all, the presence of Portugal at the fairs is relevant. From Portugal stands had remarkable visibility and sucess. In the case of TECHTEXTIL, the attribution of the innovation prize in the area of sustainability and circular economy to the consortium ERT, CITEVE, CeNTI, and CTIC for the recovery process of natural leather waste and its use in the textile in - carbonization, and energy transition bring constraints, but also opportunities to the economy and human development.

In this context, the textiles and clothing industry must continue to seek excellence, as they have always done, through resilience, adaptability, flexibility, and risk minimization investment, which is essential to survive to a variety of setbacks.

On the ATP side, we will strive to meet this transformation, fight to defend the sector and its member's interests, particularly to improve competitiveness conditions and promoting collective bargaining to ensure social peace and sustainable development. This transformation also requires promoting and giving visibility to the Portuguese textile and fashion sector and reinforce the ATP's proximity to its members. Proximity can be reached by increasing ATP's representativeness, by asserting itself as the most significant and active association in the sector, and by improving and diversifying services to meet the needs of companies.

Finally, I leave you an appeal. In this process of profound transformation and volatility, only in cooperation and with everyone's effort we will be able to go further with better results. ATP has always had and will continue to have its doors open to everyone. With the spirit mission to defend and promote the Portuguese textile and clothing sector.

Join us! Let's work together. t dustry. Undoubtedly an excellent example on the path of circular economy, giving visibility to Portugal in innovation and sustainability.

At TEXPROCESS, the highlight goes to the company ROQ, which invested in a large stand with machines in almost uninterrupted operation. The combination of traditional one-piece printing and digital printing in the same machine, with integrated drying and packaging solutions, was undoubtedly one of the points of attraction for visitors.

As for HEIMTEXTIL, which Messe Frankfurt exceptionally decided to join to the other two fairs, Por - tugal's commitement was timider. Many companies of this sector absence of many companies from the sector, which can be understandable given the date on which the fair took place, which usually takes place in January. Even so, the “From Portugal” stand at the entrance to the noblest pavilion gave good visibility to our country.

At the three fairs, Messe Frankfurt sought to invest in innovation and sustainability. Undoubtedly followed by most exhibitors, these bets cannot fail to be the priorities of any company, especially in these moments of great uncertainty about the short-term future. t