BTJ: Please share with us the history of ACIMIT and its role to upraise the Italian textile machinery manufacturers globally.
MARCO SALVADE: In its 80 years of existence, ACIMIT aims to promote the Italian textile machinery industry worldwide through several promotional activities. These initiatives include incoming missions of foreign textile operators to Italy, organization of technological symposia abroad, and set up of Italian pavilions in the main trade fairs.
BTJ: Tell us about ACIMIT activities in Bangladesh. How important is Bangladesh market for Italian textile machinery manufacturers? What is your plan to boost your business in Bangladesh market?
MARCO SALVADE: Bangladesh represents one of the main markets for Italian textile machinery manufacturers. Over the years, we have carried out an extensive promotional program aimed at introducing Italian textile technology to Bangladeshi textile companies. The latest initiative was an incoming mission of textile operators from Bangladesh, who arrived in Italy in July 2024 to meet Italian manufacturers.
BTJ: I remember, it was back in 2009 or 2010, ACIMIT invited me to a solo exhibition, which took place in a hotel in Bangladesh where some of the Italian textile machine manufacturers came to showcase their machineries.
Do you do that anymore? If not, do you have any plan to do such? Do you think solo exhibition adds value to your manufacturers?
MARCO SALVADE: Certainly in the future, ACIMIT, in cooperation with Italian Trade Agency, will implement further initiatives for the Bangladesh market. The technological symposia you refer to are definitely among the preferred activities to make the ‘Made in Italy’ textile machinery brand known abroad.
BTJ: In context of investment in Bangladesh, since labor is much cheaper here than any other Asian countries, do you have any plan that Italian machine manufacturers will come to Bangladesh for setting up their own plants here?
MARCO SALVADE: Price-based competition may lead our companies to increasingly produce in countries where labor is cheap. But Italian technological supply is distinguished by quality and the high technological level. This is why most of our companies are proud to keep the core business of their production in Italy. Compared to other major textile technology supplier countries, Italian manufacturers believe it is important to preserve the tradition of a skilled workforce while ensuring quality and innovation for customers. So ACIMIT strongly believes in the value of ‘Made in Italy’ promoting it with pride worldwide. Today, buying the ‘Made in Italy’ brand means designing and producing in Italy and not relocating abroad.
BTJ: Would you like to share with us the figures of trade volume between Bangladesh and Italy in recent years? Where do you see these trade volumes in the next five years?
MARCO SALVADE: Regarding our sales toward Bangladesh, Italian exports amounted to 86 million Euro last year. In the first 7 months of 2024, our sales reached 38 million Euro. Italy is the second country as technological partner in the textile machinery sector for the Bangladeshi textile companies behind China, representing a 9% market share on the total imports of Bangladesh. For the next 2025-2028 period, ACIMIT forecasts show a further increase of the demand for foreign machinery coming from local companies (+6,7% CAGR). I believe there will be an opportunity for Italian manufacturers to strengthen their presence in the local market.
BTJ: From your perspective, where do you see Bangladesh in RMG world after 5 years from now?
MARCO SALVADE: I believe that Bangladeshi textile companies will continue to be leading players in the RMG sector globally, given the mix of skills, growing global demand, and low labor costs that characterize the industry in the country.
BTJ: What would be your advice for the textile factory owners of Bangladesh?
MARCO SALVADE: The advice I can give is that the textile companies must keep relying on technological partners, who can offer solutions that let their customers to keep being competitive in a world scenario. This will mean that textile owners in Bangladesh will increasingly have to choose machinery based on its quality rather than price, preferring the ‘Made in Italy’ brands.
Marco Salvadè is an Italian industrialist currently serving as President of ACIMIT, the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers. He stepped into the presidency on July 4, 2023, succeeding Alessandro Zucchi. Marco leads and is president of Salvadè S.r.l., a family company founded in 1967 by his father and uncle, specializing in finishing machinery—particularly post-printing steamers, drying/tumbling systems, and finishing for fashion textiles He became President of Salvadè S.r.l. in 2021, having earlier been a member of the company’s board. He has been involved in ACIMIT’s governance for some years: since 2018 he has sat on its General Council, and in March 2023 he joined the Italian delegation to CEMATEX, the European body for textile machinery associations.
