The 17th international exhibition of textile machinery CAITME 2026 has kicked off in Tashkent | Report

The 17th International Exhibition of Textile Machinery CAITME 2026 has started its work in Tashkent | Report

From September 8 to 10, the 17th Central Asian International Exhibition "Textile Machinery and Technologies – CAITME 2026" is taking place at "Uzexpocentre".

Over the years of its development, CAITME has turned into a unique project for Central Asia and the CIS and has become Uzbekistan's national brand in the field of textile industry exhibitions.

For many years, the exhibition has remained one of the main instruments for the innovative and progressive development of the region's textile and garment industry. CAITME provides significant support to the regional textile and garment business in upgrading production capacities, increasing productivity, and competitiveness in global markets.

It helps domestic manufacturers constantly maintain contact with suppliers of advanced technologies, stay abreast of all innovations and new products, receive technical advice on the operation of machinery and equipment, as well as special promotions and "first-hand" offers.

Today, the significance of CAITME goes far beyond a single market: every year the exhibition gathers leading manufacturers of equipment and technologies from different countries, while specialists and representatives of textile enterprises come to Tashkent in search of modern solutions, new suppliers, and business partners.

This is especially important at the current stage, when the global textile industry is going through a difficult period of transformation: competition for foreign markets is intensifying, supply chains are changing, international tariff policies and transport and logistics routes are being revised, and new requirements for transparency, sustainability, and production efficiency are emerging from international customers.

Against this background, Uzbekistan continues to support and develop the textile, garment, and knitwear industry through tax reductions, incentives for developing new export markets and marketing, modernization of production facilities, introduction of international certificates and standards, preferential lending, attracting investments, and supporting innovative projects. In 2025 alone, the volume of attracted foreign investments into the industry amounted to $2.1 billion.

Despite the challenging period in the industry, CAITME maintains its position. In 2026, more than 250 companies and brands from 18 countries that view Uzbekistan and Central Asia as an important and promising market will take part in the exhibition: Austria, Belgium, China, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Spain, Turkey, the UAE, the UK, the USA, Uzbekistan, and Switzerland.

The top 5 foreign countries by the number of participants included China, Turkey, Germany, Italy, and India. The share of foreign participants at the exhibition reached 83%.

Germany — one of the leading countries in the global textile machinery industry — is participating again this year in the format of a National Pavilion. Companies such as Andritz Küsters, Brückner Textile Technologies, Carl Schmale, Sossna, Texpa, Thies, Groz-Beckert KG, Kaeser Kompressoren, Schott & Meissner Maschinen- und Anlagenbau, and Textima Export Import GmbH will present advanced solutions for dyeing, finishing, and garment production, the nonwovens industry, as well as a wide range of auxiliary equipment and components.

Companies from Austria, Belgium, China, India, Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, the UK, the USA, and other leading engineering nations are represented with wide participation.

Among the participants and represented brands are recognized leaders in textile machinery and suppliers of the most advanced technologies from Europe and Asia: Rieter, Uster, Novibra, SSM, Spindelfabrik Sussen, Toyota, Muratec, Truetzschler, Saurer, Picanol, Santoni, Terrot, Groz-Beckert, Habasit, MHMS, Vandewiele, Mayer, IRO, Biancalani, Brazzoli, Ferraro, Epson, Mario Crosta, Itema, Lafer, Motex Di Modiano Guido, Salvade`, Simet, Sclavos, Effe, Mahlo, Lonati, Shima Seiki, Tetas, Temsan, Staubli, Karl Mayer, Lakshmi Machine Works, Lakshmi Card Clothing, Precitex, Kansai, Eliar, Pai Lung, AB Carter, James Heal, Guven Celik, West Global, CTMTC, Hengyi, Leadsfon, Rifa, Yingyang, Baoyu, Hikari, Ricoma, and many others.

The CAITME 2026 exposition once again occupies all pavilions of the NEC "Uzexpocentre" and is divided into key areas:

· finishing, dyeing, and printing technologies (Pavilion No. 1)

· spinning technologies (Pavilion No. 2)

· textile chemicals and dyes (Atrium Hall 1)

· equipment for garment production (Pavilion No. 3)

· weaving and knitting equipment (Pavilion No. 4)

This structure helps specialists easily navigate, find the right solutions, wisely allocate their working time at the exhibition, and plan the schedule of necessary meetings in advance.

This year, CAITME will focus on the following new and in-demand industry trends:

Automation of production processes — both of individual sections and entire production lines. Modern factories face growing demands — from a shortage of skilled labor to the desire to increase efficiency and reduce costs. Automation is becoming a powerful response to these challenges: it reduces labor costs, ensures consistently high yarn quality without human factor influence, and increases equipment utilization rates. For example, the famous European flagship — Rieter (Switzerland) — will present innovative solutions for the automation of spinning mills, while Texpa (Germany) will showcase automatic and semi-automatic lines for sewing home textiles, etc.

Ensuring sustainability by improving production methods: rational use of low-impact dyes; wastewater treatment of dyeing and finishing industries, as well as the use of "green" energy. Eliar (Turkey) will show "smart" dye dispensing systems, advanced sensors, and software that are changing the future of "smart" and "sustainable" dyehouses.

Increasing efficiency and optimizing production. For example, Biancalani (Italy) will present fabric finishing solutions designed to optimize resource consumption while using environmentally friendly processes based on enzyme technology.

Multifunctionality and multitasking. Ricoma Asia (Uzbekistan) will present an embroidery machine that not only embroiders but also sews on beads, pearls, and crystals. A special device also allows creating terry embroidery, chain, and loop stitch — the famous Uzbek "popop kashta".

And the most important trend of all recent textile machinery exhibitions, which is actively coming to Uzbekistan, is the "smart" recycling of textile waste at all stages, from the spinning shop to recycling used clothing back into yarn, fabrics, garments, ensuring the circularity of textile production. A number of leading European companies offer solutions for circular production.

For example, Truetzschler (Germany) — a leading developer and trendsetter in this field — will present innovative solutions that help avoid unnecessary fiber waste, profitably use production waste from spinning preparation, and achieve the highest possible quality in the production of yarn from shredded fabrics and used textile products.

It is worth noting that this year CAITME will again be held as part of the Global Textile Days textile week, the program of which also includes a series of B2B meetings on the TextileExpo Uzbekistan Sourcing Hub platform for professional buyers of textile and garment products and manufacturers. On September 9, in Atrium Hall 2, buyers, importers, distributors, retail chains, clothing brand owners, and e-commerce representatives will be able to conduct dozens of pre-arranged negotiations with manufacturers from Uzbekistan and other Central Asian countries.

The organizers emphasize that CAITME is more than an exhibition. It is the key business platform of the textile and garment industry of Central Asia, an opportunity for investment, progress, and growth of the economies of the region's countries, a national brand known to professionals worldwide.

The high international status of CAITME is annually confirmed by an independent audit of the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI), which the exhibition will undergo again in 2026. According to the audit data, today CAITME holds a leading position among specialized textile machinery exhibitions in the CIS countries and remains one of the largest industry platforms in Asia.

In the context of rapid transformation of the global textile and clothing market, it is precisely such professional platforms that become a growth point for enterprises focused on modernization, sustainable development, and strengthening their positions in the international arena.

Official support was provided by:

· The Committee of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis of the Republic of Uzbekistan on Entrepreneurship, Competition Development, and Industry.

· The Ministry of Investment, Industry, and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

· The Agency for the Development of Light Industry under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

· The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

· "Uztextileprom" Association and the Khokimiyat of Tashkent City.

The event is organized by the International Exhibition Company Iteca Exhibitions and its partner ICA Eurasia Group.