Pak-Korea Technical Textile Research Center accomplished at National Textile University, Faisalabad.

Pak-Korea Technical Textile Research Center accomplished at National Textile University, Faisalabad.


FAISALABAD. June 8: In order to make Pakistan Textile Industry more competitive and capable of attaining a prominent position, this Vital Sector of the Economy should immediately switch-over to High-Tech Textile Industry which could create Value-Addition through combination with Medical, Sports, Construction and Automobile Fields. This was asserted here today by His Excellency Mr. Jin-Wook Kim, Korean Ambassador in Pakistan while addressing the “handing over ceremony of the Pak-Korea Technical Textile Research Centre” accomplished at National Textile University, Faisalabad. The DG KOICA, Mr. Chung Jong Hyok, Deputy KOICA, Ms. Kim Su Jin, Ms. Na Min Yeong and Mr. Seokwoo Park were also present on this ceremony along with the Korean Ambassador.

The Ambassador told that the Government of Republic Korea have granted a support of 3 Million US Dollars in form of Equipment Procurement for this Project in addition to imparting manpower training to Officials of the National Textile University, mainly focusing on Technical Textiles. The Korean Envoy expressed confidence that this Centre will give a positive impact in the whole Textile Industry and contribute competitiveness strength to Textile Industry in Pakistan.

Continuing, the Ambassador added that the establishment of the Pak-Korea Technical Textile Research Centre at NTU was a timely and meaningful decision as the aims of this Centre is to develop and promote Technical Textile in Pakistan. The Ambassador said that the Centre will conduct various research and experiments, setup relevant standards for technical products testing services in Technical Textile and provide support to starting business in technical sectors and to facilitate the domestic and export market development of technical textiles. Indeed, this center will work as an important technical textile sources center in whole of Pakistan.

The Ambassador said that he understood that the Textile Industry in Pakistan is divided into 2 main parts like ‘Conventional Textile Industry & Technical Textile Industry’. The conventional textile had been more common in developing countries where labor cost is cheaper but it is limited only to Garment Sector which was the main sector of ‘Conventional Textile Industry’ and facing oversupply due to excessive expansion of productive capacity of China and other developing countries. Hence, the trend centering in advance countries is being turned into ‘Technical Textile Industry’ with the help of mainstream as it was rapidly expanding its business fields, replacing metal, plastic and other materials.

The Korean Ambassador while quoting the examples of advanced countries told that out of global production of Technical Textiles,23 percent was being consumed in United States while Europe, China and Japan occupy 22 percent,13 percent and 7 percent respectively while East Asia shares only one-fifth of total production. Under these circumstances, the Korean Envoy added, they suggest Pakistan to divert its entire direction towards high-tech Textile Industry.

The Ambassador, however, said that Pakistan has to actively and judiciously invest in the Technical Textiles Field and conduct a comprehensive research to overcome the bottle-necks in this Sector, especially regarding the high cost for hi-tech materials and chemicals which deteriorate its price competitiveness in the global market and further to strengthen sustainability of the Pakistani Textile Industry itself.

Winding-up his speech, the Korean Ambassador, fully endorsed the contribution of National Textile University and the KOICA on successful and rapid completion of this Textile Research Centre at NTU .

The Ambassador, also expressed his especial thanks to Mr. Hassan Iqbal, Federal Secretary to Textile Ministry of Pakistan, Dr. Taveer Hussain, Rector NTU and other Distinguished Guest on gracing this auspicious occasion.

At termination of this historic Event, Korean Ambassador, raised his both hands and loudly uttered “ Pak-Korea Dosti Zinda Bad” and expressed ‘ Shukriya ‘ to audience.

Earlier, Rector NTU, Prof. Dr. Tanveer Hussain,in his address of welcome expressed thanks to Korean Ambassador for gracing the occasion and handing-over the Pak-Korea Technical Textile Research Centre to National Textile University. He also expressed his gratitude to the Korean Government and the Korean International Cooperation Agency(KOICA)for their consistent financial support of 3 Million Dollars for accomplishment of the first ever Technical Textile Research Centre in Pakistan at NTU.

Continuing the Rector NTU told that total current world trade in Textile & Clothing stood around 774 Billion Dollars while Pakistan stands at 15th position in global textile and clothing exports despite being the fourth largest producer of cotton in the world. He said that the Textile Industry was the mainstay of Pakistan Economy which accounts around 9 percent of our GDP.

The Rector NTU told that global market for technical textiles is more than 150 Billion Dollars and added that United States and European Countries continue to be major manufacturers and consumers of the Technical Textiles. Our Asian competitors like China and India have recently emerged as main production centres of technical textiles in the world but Pakistan was still lacking in this field.

Rector, Dr. Tanveer Hussain expressed confidence that commissioning of the Pak-Korea Technical Textile Research Centre at NTU, will be extremely helpful in meeting the research, products development and testing requirements of the emerging technical textiles industry in Pakistan as it will also contribute a great deal towards our product diversification, value addition and innovation resulting in substantial increase in our Exports and contribution to our national economic development.

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