Fashion, Leather Exhibition “Modatex” Opened

Damascus, (ST) – With the participation of 60 local companies, the Specialized Exhibition in the World of Fashion and Leather “Modatex” was opened yesterday at the Dama Rose Hotel in Damascus. The event was held by the Syrian Exporters’ Federation (SEF) in cooperation with the Development and Export Promotion Association (DEPA) and the Damascus Chamber of Industry and in the presence of many of businessmen.

In a statement to reporters, the Director General of Development and Export Promotion Association Eng. Ihab Asmander clarified that the DEPA is a part of the actors and the central working group regarding the development of Syrian exports and increasing the quality and quantity of these exports, pointing out that the DEPA is looking for ways to raise the Syrian exports and achieve the growth rates especially for clothing and textile.

Eng. Asmander felt that the problem facing the Syrian exports lies in the possibility of achieving an increase in production to be available for export and this is what the DEPA is seeking to achieve through the promotion of Syrian producers to return to the maximum output through holding exhibitions to communicate directly with producers and with responsible authorities to discuss new mechanisms for the development and promotion of Syrian exports.

He revealed that Syrian exports recorded an increase of 8 percent in 2014 for the year 2013 and through the first and second quarters of the year 2015 achieved a 10 percent increase from the same period of 2014, confirming that it is a step in the right direction but it is not sufficient.  We, he added, want to achieve a rising growth rates to reach the actual exports to conform to possible exports, indicating that the current conditions are better and the Syrian government made a lot of facilities for the transfer of many plants to safe places.

In a similar statement, the head of Syrian Exporters’ Federation Mohammed al -Sawah noted that the exhibition includes different varieties of clothing for all ages as well as leather goods for the industrialists from various Syrian provinces. He addressed a message through the exhibition to various businessmen outside Syria to return to contribute to the reconstruction and recovery of the national industry.

Mr. Al –Sawah said that the SEF in cooperation with several agencies are working to return exhibitions to their previous glow through the expansion of establishments to include various Syrian governorates in addition to the exhibitions held abroad, revealing that the SEF is working for the participation of the various productive sectors in the various fairs.

The head of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce Osama Mustafa said that “Syria’s economy began to recover and there are new steps carried out by the industrialists to increase their output,” stressing that there is a joint effort to restore the bright image of Syria at various levels, particularly in the economic field.

Many of the participants in the exhibition expressed the importance of their participation in exhibitions because it contributes to open new horizons for the Syrian product not only at the local level but also abroad.

Sharif al –Khatib