The International Cotton Advisory Committee International Seminar was staged Sept. 18 in Taipei City, bringing together academics, officials and professionals to discuss emerging trends and sustainability in the global textile industry.
 
Jointly supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Washington-based ICAC, the one-day event was organized by the Taiwan Textile Federation and featured some 250 participants from 13 countries and territories.
 
The seminar, themed Market Trends and Sustainability of Cotton and Textile Industry, comprised panel discussions, presentations and speeches on such topics as emerging technologies; factors shaping the future of fashion; green textiles; and the impact of cross-border e-commerce on global trade.
 
MOEA Vice Minister Wang Mei-hua said at the opening ceremony that the event provided a platform to examine how automation and smart manufacturing, as well as innovative methods for combining cotton and synthetic fibers, could facilitate sustainable development in the global cotton and textile sector.
 
The seminar’s two keynote speeches focused on big data and artificial intelligence for smart manufacturing, as well as cotton and synthetic fiber supply chains and market trends. The former was delivered by Jay Lee, distinguished research professor at the University of Cincinnati, and the latter by Robert Merrill, director of aromatic fibers and feedstocks market insights for the Americas at industry consultancy IHS Markit.
 
In addition to emerging technologies and sustainable practices, the event also explored cotton industry opportunities in Australia and South Africa. The following day, attendees were scheduled to tour local textile companies, as well as major cultural destinations such as National Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the National Palace Museum and Taipei 101.
 
Established in 1939, the ICAC aims to foster a healthy global cotton industry by providing a platform for information sharing and collaboration for its 29 member states. Taiwan joined in 1963, and has hosted the association’s international seminar six times since 2005.
 
According to MOEA statistics, Taiwan’s textile industry comprises over 4,300 manufacturers employing some 143,000 workers. In 2016, the sector’s production value reached US$11.9 billion, with exports valued at US$9.9 billion, the ministry said. (KWS-E)
 
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