The Asian International Exhibition of Textile Machinery (ITMA ASIA), the region's leading textile machinery exhibition, opened here on Monday, drawing nearly 850 companies and 30,000 trade visitors from more than 50 countries and regions.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Singapore's Minister of Trade and Industry Lim Hng Kiang said that the economic growth in China, India and Southeast Asia has resulted in a positive knock-on effect on Asia's textile industry.

Last year, Asia's fabric output grew by over 50 percent with Asia accounting for about half of the world's exports in textiles and clothing, he said, adding that exports from Singapore's textile and garment manufacturers alone amounted to 4.3 billion Singapore dollars (about 2.5 billion US dollars).

Stressing that Singapore could play a pivotal role for textile- related businesses worldwide amid Asia's vibrant textile industry, Lim said that the city state was a good springboard for textile and apparel companies to venture out into the region.

Currently, Singapore has a critical mass of more than 700 textile and apprarel manufacturers, traders, fashion buying houses and supporting industry players.

The five-day exhibition, the second since 2001, is held concurrently with the Singapore Fashion Week.

Source: Xinhua