Thomas Y.T. Huang, chairman of CTI, center, welcomes guests at the Taiwan Night at ITMA2003 in Birmingham, Britain.

Taiwan''s textile machinery manufacturers are expected to book orders valued at US$10 billion at the 14th International Textile Machinery Exhibition (ITMA) held at Birmingham, according to Thomas Y.T. Huang, chairman of China Textile Institute (CTI).

Huang, the leader of a 42-member Taiwan delegation to the ITMA, said Taiwan textile machinery makers which took part in the exhibition were satisfied with the results of the Birmingham event, which is the largest textile machinery in the world.

In an exclusive interview, Huang told The China Post more than 300 potential customers visited the booths of CTI and those of exhibitors from Taiwan. Most of the visitors attending the ITMA were high ranking business executives who are responsible for decision-making in their respective companies. The potential customers were from all over the world, including those from Belgium, Germany, India, Italy, Turkey, United Kingdom, the United States, and from other European and Latin American countries.

Members of the Taiwan delegation also met professionals from textile product certification laboratories from the UK and France, textile R&D institutions in Europe, and from universities in the UK and Belgium for exchange of latest textile industry technologies, Huang explained.

The fabrics manufactured with advanced technologies and fabric image analysis system showed by CTI were among the most popular items at the ITMA, according to Huang. The Taiwan delegation showcased seven special textile manufacturing technologies at the exhibition.

In addition to Taiwan''s textile machinery makers, representatives from Taiwan''s Silk & Filament Weaving Industrial Association, Taiwan Knitting Industry Association, and Taiwan Sweater Industry Association also took part in the ITMA at Birmingham.

At the ITMA exhibition CTI has been actively promoting its R&D know-how.