Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Salih Mutlu Şen inaugurated the 78th edition of Cairo Fashion & Tex, which ran from 2 to 4 October, marking another milestone for Egypt's textile and garment industry. The opening ceremony was attended by a distinguished group of officials and industry leaders, including Alaa Ezz, Secretary General of the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations; Mohamed Abdel Salam, Chairperson of the Ready-Made Garments and Textiles Chamber at the Federation of Egyptian Industries; and 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, Chairperson of the Jeddah Exhibitions and Events Center at the Jeddah Chamber in Saudi Arabia; Younes Al-Mufti, President of Morocco's National Association of Fabric Importers; and Nihad Akinci, President of the Egyptian-Turkish Businessmen Association (TOMIAD). Their presence underscored the exhibition's growing regional and international significance as a key platform for the textile and apparel industries in Africa and the Middle East. In his opening remarks, Ambassador Mutlu Şen praised the strong economic and trade relations between Egypt and Turkey, particularly in textiles and ready-made garments. He described the event as an important opportunity to showcase Egypt's industrial potential and export capabilities to African and Arab markets, expressing his wishes for the exhibition's continued success. This year's edition brings together around 650 companies from over 20 countries, including 400 Egyptian, 150 Chinese, and 25 Turkish firms. The strong turnout, organisers said, highlights growing confidence in the Egyptian market and its role as a gateway for regional trade and investment. Dr. Mohamed El-Sherif, Chairperson of Pyramids Group, the event organiser, said the exhibition reinforces Egypt's position as a regional hub for textiles and ready-made garments, adding that this year's record participation reflects international trust in Egypt's manufacturing base. He noted that Cairo Fashion & Tex serves as a strategic platform for export promotion and business matchmaking, as previous editions witnessed the signing of major export contracts that bolstered the national economy. "Our goal is to strengthen exports. The exhibition provides a vital platform for major export agreements and networking opportunities," El-Sherif said, adding that the 78th edition aims to attract at least 500 international buyers and importers to expand participating companies' access to non-traditional markets. Mohamed Abdel Salam, Chairperson of the Ready-Made Garments and Textiles Chamber, highlighted the sector's remarkable development in recent years, noting that exhibitions such as Cairo Fashion & Tex are crucial gateways for Egyptian products to reach global markets. Similarly, Dr. Mohamed Fathi, Board Member of the Egyptian Textile Industries Chamber, said Egypt has made a major leap in textile and garment production, with several local brands now successfully competing internationally. "We are capable of achieving even more," he added, praising the exhibition's role in attracting exhibitors from Arab and African countries. Alaa Ezz, Secretary General of the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations, praised the noticeable improvement in production quality and industry participation, citing the strong backing of the Federation of Egyptian Industries and the Egyptian Chambers of Commerce. He emphasised Egypt's potential to become a gateway to African markets, noting that trade agreements grant Egyptian products access to over 3 billion consumers across the continent without customs duties or quotas. "This represents a tremendous opportunity for investment, industrial growth, and job creation," Ezz said. International attendees also praised Egypt's organisational excellence and regional leadership. Hassan Berkani of Morocco's Casablanca-Settat Chamber described the exhibition as a model of Arab cooperation, saying: "Egyptians and Moroccans have always been partners, and this partnership benefits the entire Arab world." From Saudi Arabia, Mohammad Al Safh, Chairperson of the Jeddah Exhibitions and Events Center, commended Egypt's success in hosting major trade events and reaffirmed the strong commercial ties between Egypt and the Kingdom. He also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen Arab and Islamic trade cooperation and expand economic activity towards Africa. For his part, Nihad Akinci, President of TOMIAD, praised the exhibition as a distinguished platform for promoting trade and investment exchange between Egypt and Turkey. He noted that the association, founded more than 23 years ago, now includes around 850 members working to enhance bilateral economic relations between the two nations.
