Turkish Ambassador to Egypt, Salih Mutlu Şen, inaugurated the 78th edition of Cairo Fashion & Tex, which will run from 2 to 4 October.
The opening ceremony witnessed a distinguished high-level attendance, including Dr. Alaa Ezz, Secretary General of the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations; Dr. Mohamed Abdel Salam, Chairman of the Ready-Made Garments and Textiles Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries; and Dr. Mohamed Fathi, Board Member of the Egyptian Textile Industries Chamber.
The event also welcomed prominent international representatives such as Hassan Berkani, President of the Casablanca-Settat Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services; Mohammad Al Safh, Chairman of the Jeddah Exhibitions and Events Center at the Jeddah Chamber in Saudi Arabia; Younes Al-Mufti, President of the National Association of Fabric Importers in Morocco; and Nihad Akinci, President of the Egyptian-Turkish Businessmen Association “Tomiad”.
This distinguished participation underscores the exhibition’s regional and international significance as a vital hub for the textile and apparel industry.
During his opening speech, the Turkish Ambassador to Cairo highlighted the deep economic and trade relations between Egypt and Turkey, particularly in the textile and ready-made garments sector.
The ambassador Mutlu Şen noted that the event serves as an important opportunity to showcase the capabilities of the Egyptian industry, which is now well-positioned to export to various African and Arab markets, expressed his wishes for the exhibition’s success and for further growth of the industry.
The exhibition hosts around 650 companies from various countries, including 400 Egyptian companies, 150 Chinese companies, and 25 Turkish companies.
This strong participation reflects the commitment of different enterprises to strengthen their presence in Egypt and to establish export partnerships in the Egyptian market as well as neighboring markets.
Dr. Mohamed El-Sherif, Chairman of Pyramids Group, the organizer of Cairo Fashion & Tex, expressed his great pleasure at the inauguration of the exhibition’s 78th edition, stressing that this event reinforces Egypt’s position as a regional hub for the textile and ready-made garments industry.
He pointed out that this year’s edition is witnessing a record participation, bringing together more than 650 companies from over 20 countries worldwide, which reflects the international confidence in the Egyptian market.
El-Sherif further explained that Egypt tops the list of participating countries with over 400 companies, followed by China with around 150 companies, while Turkey is represented by nearly 25 companies, in addition to contributions from other countries, enriching the exhibition with a diverse range of products and global expertise.
El-Sherif added that the main objective of organizing this exhibition is to boost Egyptian exports of textiles and garments to neighboring countries and global markets.
He disclosed that the exhibition serves as a vital platform for concluding deals and expanding business networks, noting that previous editions have witnessed the signing of numerous major export contracts that contributed to supporting the national economy.
El-Sherif explained that this edition aims to attract no fewer than 500 international visitors, including top buyers and importers, in order to increase opportunities for participating companies to secure new export deals and penetrate non-traditional markets.
He expressed his confidence that the current edition of Cairo Fashion & Tex will be the most successful to date, thanks to the wide diversity of products and the high quality of participation.
For his part, Dr. Mohamed Abdel Salam, Chairman of the Ready-Made Garments and Textiles Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries, stated that Egypt’s garment industry has witnessed remarkable development in recent years.
He said that all stakeholders in the sector are keen on significantly increasing exports in the coming period, stressing that exhibitions are among the most important gateways for Egyptian products to reach markets around the world, praised the strong turnout at Cairo Fashion & Tex.
Meanwhile, Dr. Mohamed Fathi, Board Member of the Egyptian Textile Industries Chamber, stated that Egypt has achieved a major leap in the field of ready-made garments and textiles, with several international brands emerging from Egypt and successfully entering global markets, added, “We are capable of achieving even more.”
Fathi added that Cairo Fashion & Tex has succeeded in attracting a large number of exhibitors from Arab and African countries, which will have a highly positive impact on export growth.
Further, Dr. Alaa Ezz, Secretary General of the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations, highlighted the noticeable development in Egyptian production, as well as the quality of both exhibitors and visitors.
He emphasized the strong support provided by the Federation of Egyptian Industries and the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce.
Ezz added, “We aim to boost investments and expand into African markets through trade exchange agreements that open access to more than 3 billion consumers without customs duties or quotas—especially given Egypt’s competitive advantages such as labor costs.”
He explained that gaining access to numerous markets, including the entire African market without customs duties, represents a tremendous investment and employment opportunity, with Egypt remaining the main gateway to these diverse markets.
Mr. Hassan Berkani, President of the Casablanca-Settat Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Services, expressed his delight at attending the exhibition, saying, “I would like to thank the organizers of this important event for the excellent organization and professionalism. Egyptians and Moroccans have always been partners, and this partnership is globally recognized. It benefits Morocco, Egypt, and all Arab countries.”
For his part, Mohammad Al Safh, Chairman of the Jeddah Exhibitions and Events Center at the Jeddah Chamber in Saudi Arabia, highlighted the success of recent fashion exhibitions held in Jeddah, praising the strong trade relations between Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Al Safh said, “We are working within the framework of strengthening trade exchange and relations, including with our sister nation Morocco, to boost economic activity towards Africa. We also value the role of Turkish partner companies in this developmental landscape, which aligns with the directives of Arab leaders to enhance Islamic and Arab trade relations.”
Regarding Egyptian-Turkish relations, Nihad Akinci, President of the Egyptian-Turkish Businessmen Association “Tomiad”, praised the organization of the exhibition, describing it as a distinguished platform for promoting trade and investment exchange.
Akinci noted that the association, founded over 23 years ago to support both Turkish and Egyptian businessmen, now brings together nearly 850 members committed to strengthening trade and investment ties between the two nations.
