Moscow, Russia, May 23--The 24th Federal Fair for Home Textiles and Apparel fabrics was organised by "TextileExpo", Russia from March 22-25, 2005 in Russia, Moscow at an All Russian Exhibition Centre covering 35,000 net square meters hosting Russian buyers.
First edition of Federal Fair for textiles was organised in the year 1993 with the participation of 1500 companies and this year 2500 companies from 40 countries exhibited at the 24th Federal Fair for Home Textiles and Apparel fabrics. About 70,000 traders, retailers and wholesalers from 12 CIS states, 14 East European and 80 regions of Russia visited the exhibition. This year home textile goods were presented by Pakistan's top home textile exporters in a fashion show to Russian buyers, which attracted great attention in the Exhibition the Pakistani companies are interested.
With its population of 145.1 million people and its annual purchasing power of 700 billion dollars, the Russian Federation is a market of great importance.
This massive population, together with the neighbouring countries, forms a potential market for the Home Textile sector, as it does for many others. At the moment, Turkey holds a 70% share of the market of home textile imports from Russia. Further, 30% of products sold to Europe pass again from Europe into Russia.
Every day about 30 transport trucks filled with home textiles from the Laleli market pass through Moscow Customs. Huge retail market chains such as IKEA, Metro, Ashan, Ramstores, Magellan, United Colours of Benneton and the like are trying to increase their share of this market. Metro aims to have 100 stores in the years 2004-2005 whereas Ramstores of Turkey is planning to build 50 new stores in the next two years in different cities of Russia. These numbers demonstrate how much of a potential propulsive force the Russian Federation represents.
With the restructuring following the 1998 crisis in Russia, the national economy has started to strengthen, and the needs arising from that restructuring have opened the country's import channels. Be it construction and mass housing in newly settled areas, be it the need for hardware materials in houses, offices and hotels rising with the increase in construction of business centers, be it the increase in furniture manufacturing within Russia, or be it the recent expansion of the home textile sector in Russia, there is much evidence of a steady growth, increasing the purchasing power of the Russian government, which has recovered following the crisis.
Construction in Russia has recently started advancing rapidly. The development of residential areas and the foundation of new workplaces have been carried out by importing construction and home requirements from abroad, in the name of accelerating the national economy.
The Russian Federation has a great demand these days for home textiles from abroad, and shows an increase in imports of such products. The products most in demand in Russia include curtains, upholstery fabrics, towels and bathrobes, lacework, tablecloths, bed sheets and blankets, carpets and flooring.
In conclusion, the activity in the markets of furniture and hardware for Russia's new residential areas, mass housing, business centers, houses, offices and hotels is a sign that home textile products will manage to find a large-scale market in this country.
The market for apparel, furniture, and other textile consumer goods is developing rapidly. For the past three years, local consumption of consumer goods has steadily increased. By early 2003, consumer goods prices will reach levels surpassing those just before Russia's 1998 financial crisis. This will present significant opportunities for Pakistani firms.
