Egyptian Home Textile Export Council (HTEC)plans to raise sector's exports by 20 percent during 2017, Chairman Saeed Ahmed told Amwal Al Ghad Tuesday. Total exports of home textiles sector are estimated at around five billion Egyptian pounds (US$ 277 million) annually, the official stated. In January-October 2016, Egyptian home textiles sector achieved exports estimated at around US$425 million opposed to US$500 million at the same period of 2015. On the other side, Ahmed noted that 38 Egyptian firms are set to participate in the international trade fair for home and contract textiles Heimtextil that would take place in Frankfurt am Main from 10 to 13 January 2017. The Egyptian pavilion in Heimtextil would be established on an area of 2,000 square metres. Heimtextil is the industry's most important global event for interior textiles, interior design and interior trends that hosts 2,300 global firms from 130 states every year. The chairperson added that Heimtextil is a great chance for the sector to promote Egyptian products and reach a number of exporting deals. Egyptian home textiles sector owns the potentials that qualify it to enter and compete in international markets, Ahmed asserted, noting that HTEC plans to participate in a number of international exhibitions and promotional campaigns. The council is set to start preparing for a number of promotional campaigns as the first one would be sent to Kenya and Ethiopia next April, the chairman pointed out. HTEC plans to send a promotional campaign to a number of states including Romania, Hungary, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan in addition to another campaign to Bahrain and Oman.
