The Syrian Exporters Federation (SEF) and Export Development & Promotion Agency (EDPA) were organizing in collaboration with the Syrian Enterprise Business Center (SEBC) the Syrian participation in the 7th edition of ZOOM by Fatex, the industry event that is dedicated entirely to fashion manufacturing, from 20 to 22 September 2011 at the Paris-Nord Villepinte exhibition centre as part of “Première Vision Pluriel”.

The Syrian participation was facilitated by SEF and EDPA, both of which had covered two thirds of the cost as part of a plan to support Syrian exports and assist them to reach new markets. (SEF) had also offered participants a number of training sessions and various logistic services in order to have distinguished effective participation.

And in order to support small and medium-Syrian enterprises, (SEF) covered all Participation cost of the Syrian Textile & Garment Exporters Association (STGEA) to support Syrian products and create new export opportunities.

The Syrian textile sector represents around 17% of the total industrial output and is the second largest industry in Syria behind mining and oil. Employing nearly 30% of the total work force, the textile industry is a source of pride for Syrians who possess a strong heritage in the cotton and woolen markets, crafting intricate and reliable garments and other fabric related goods for sale worldwide. Assisted by tax credits from the government, Syrian textile plants have enjoyed a steady growth every year while many other industries have slowly fallen.

ZOOM by Fatex shed spotlight on European and Mediterranean countries with top-level know-how and state-of-the-art techniques in the manufacturing of clothing and accessories: knitted and woven fabrics, leather, lingerie & swimwear and children wear, as well as household linens, trimmings, embroidery, corporate clothing, ironing and so on. For the edition that just closed (8-10 February 2011), attendance climbed by 6.5% compared to the February 2010 session, with 55,792 visits by fashion professionals from over 100 countries.