SIPPO and Partners in 2021: Value added Textile Sector
What we are currently experiencing, how we worked closely with the Textile Trade Association/Textile Cluster and Invest North Macedonia in the second half of 2020, and why we are looking forward to 2021 with enthusiasm
The last six months of 2020 were challenging times for the textile industry due to COVID-19 pandemics. This was the period when the Textile Trade Association-Textile Cluster (TTA-TC) worked day-to-day to support companies facing challenges on multiple levels: interrupted production processes due to quarantine measures for employees, customs procedures, accessing the Government support programs as response to the global COVID-19 pandemics and more.
Throughout these challenging times, SIPPO supported its partners and tried to get advantage out of the situation of lower economic activity rather than being passive observers waiting for better days. During the summer and early autumn of 2020, SIPPO supported TTA-TC to develop new skills in applying the Design Thinking methodology which helps the BSO to clarify their value–added proposition towards the members. The customer-centric approach is now even more embedded in the structures of the BSOs and is becoming an asset that drives TTA-TC in its activities to develop services for members, to promote them and to make these services better available to them.
At the beginning of September, Invest North Macedonia (INM) and TTA-TC took advantage of benefits offered by the organizers of Pure London Pure Origin trade fair, where INM will participate with national stand in September 2021. The BSOs coordinated promotional activities and jointly participated in a two-days webinar Fashion Together where the textile manufacturing sector in North Macedonia was presented as reliable partner for international buyers.
Back in October Invest North Macedonia applied to participate in the A+A trade fair in 2021 (October 26 – 29, 2021 in Dusseldorf, Germany). Workwear and corporate wear are important industry niche markets nowadays. Invest North Macedonia is therefore addressing the needs of the sector with its presence at the world-renowned trade fair, building on TTA-TC's successful study tour in 2019. In November, TTA-TC organized a so-called "kick-off event". This was a good opportunity for INM to publicize their application to participate in the fair. At the same time, the BSOs as well as the companies supported by SIPPO experts received the latest information on workwear and corporate wear in Germany. In anticipation of a positive confirmation of participation by the trade fair management, the BSOs - supported by SIPPO - defined their "smart" goals for participation in two successive meetings, i.e. what they wanted to achieve by participating and how they would support the companies.
We believe in a brighter 2021. In the forthcoming period, SIPPO together with TTA-TC and INM will begin preparations for further trade promotion activities. We will constantly look for opportunities to develop tailor-made export promotion measures for our partners according to their needs.
Check regularly our web site for more news and information on our activities and trade promotion events.