The Italian textile machinery industry has reinforced its commitment to the Turkmen textile sector through a strong presence at Turkmen Textile Expo 2026, held in Ashgabat from June 4-6. Organized with the support of the Italian Trade Agency (ICE) and ACIMIT (Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers), the event showcased Italy’s advanced textile manufacturing technologies and highlighted growing opportunities for collaboration between the two countries.
Turkmenistan is increasingly emerging as a strategic textile manufacturing hub in Central Asia, supported by its abundant cotton production and government initiatives aimed at building a fully integrated textile value chain. As one of the country’s largest export commodities, cotton plays a crucial role in the national economy, and authorities are actively encouraging investments that convert raw cotton into higher-value textile products domestically.
The country’s industrial modernization plans have created significant demand for advanced textile machinery, positioning Italy as a preferred technology partner. Italian textile machinery exports to Turkmenistan reached €13 million in 2023, reflecting the growing confidence of local manufacturers in Italian engineering expertise and innovation.
Although the Turkmen textile market is currently in a transitional phase as new investment programs are being finalized, demand remains focused on specialized, high-performance machinery solutions. According to industry data, accessories account for 56% of Italian textile machinery exports to Turkmenistan, followed by spinning machinery (31%) and knitting machinery (13%).
Speaking on the market’s potential, ACIMIT President Marco Salvadè stated that Turkmenistan is entering a more mature stage of industrial development, which is expected to generate fresh opportunities for modernization and capacity expansion. He emphasized that Italian manufacturers are well-positioned to support these developments through their flexibility, technological innovation, and ongoing investments in research and development.
The Italian Pavilion at the exhibition featured several leading textile machinery manufacturers, including Bianco, Color Service, Corino Macchine, Dover Industries Italy, Itema, M.C.S. Officina Meccanica, Marzoli Machines Textile, Mesdan, Salvadè, Savio Macchine Tessili, and Stalam, while Ferraro participated independently with its own exhibition stand.
Founded in 1945, ACIMIT represents approximately 200 Italian textile machinery manufacturers, accounting for nearly 85% of the sector’s turnover in Italy. The industry generates annual revenues of around €1.9 billion, with nearly 86% of production exported to more than 130 countries worldwide. Italian textile machinery companies continue to be recognized globally for their innovation, sustainability, reliability, and high-quality manufacturing standards.
As Turkmenistan advances its textile industrialization strategy, partnerships with technology leaders such as Italy are expected to play a critical role in enhancing productivity, improving product quality, and strengthening the country’s competitiveness in global textile markets.