The "First International Conference on Textile Industry Engineering" kicked off today, Tuesday, in Damascus. It is organized by the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering – Department of Textile Industries and Technologies at the University of Damascus, under the slogan "When Engineering Meets Industry, the Future is Woven."
The conference is organized under the patronage of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in cooperation with the Ministry of Industry, Internal Trade, and Consumer Protection, and with technical partnership from the International Labour Organization (ILO). It features a distinguished group of researchers, experts, industrialists, and investors from various countries around the world.
The two-day conference includes lectures and specialized scientific and dialogue sessions addressing the current state and development of Syrian textile industries, industrial policies, value chains, and international marketing, digital transformation and automation of production processes, sustainability and clean production technologies, smart and medical textile materials and nanotechnologies, the path from graduation projects to entrepreneurship and opportunity creation, and the formulation of practical, actionable recommendations.
Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Ghayth Warqazooq, in a speech during the conference, pointed out that the textile sector stands at a critical juncture requiring us to preserve the heritage of this sector and its success stories. He noted that the conference aims to bridge the gap between traditional and modern technologies, leading to the world of nanotextiles and their revolutionary applications.
In this context, Warqazooq clarified that nanotechnology opens up unprecedented future success stories for us, leading to so-called smart medical textiles, self-healing fabrics, protective textiles resistant to harsh conditions, and ultimately to environmental applications and advanced engineering.
Deputy Minister of Industry, Internal Trade, and Consumer Protection Muhammad Yassin Hourieh pointed out that reviving the textile industries constitutes one of the government's priorities following liberation. He explained that developing this industry requires a comprehensive vision starting from cotton cultivation up to final products, and enhancing the capacity of establishments to meet market requirements.
Hourieh highlighted the importance of strengthening cooperation between the public and private sectors, and establishing effective partnerships with universities, technical institutes, and research and training centers, to link educational outputs with actual labor market needs and provide the necessary expertise to develop production.
For his part, the ILO Country Coordinator in Syria, Muhammad Ans Sabaa, indicated that the organization is implementing the "Weaving Hope" project, in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and with support from the Italian government. The project works with government entities, particularly the Ministries of Industry, Internal Trade, and Consumer Protection, and Social Affairs and Labor, as well as industry chambers and the General Federation of Workers' Trade Unions, to support the recovery of the textile and clothing sector in Syria. This recovery translates into more competitive factories, safer workplaces, and broader opportunities for women and youth.
Furthermore, President of the Damascus and Rural Damascus Chamber of Industry, Muhammad Ayman Al-Molawi, confirmed that the Chamber is working to strengthen the partnership between the industrial sector and academic institutions, and to convey the needs of industrialists to scientific institutions. He revealed efforts to launch a new website that provides job, training, and qualification opportunities, allowing establishment owners to advertise their needs for engineers, technicians, graduates, and job seekers, thereby contributing to matching available expertise with the needs of the industrial sector.
For his part, President of the University of Damascus, Dr. Mustafa Sa'im Al-Dahr, highlighted the pioneering role of the (MEE) Faculty in the scientific research movement, where dozens of graduation theses and postgraduate studies, as well as more than 30 international scientific research papers, are produced annually. He expressed the University's commitment to directing and investing these energies and research to serve and develop the national industry, ensuring the sustainability of the country's resources.
He emphasized that the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering at the University of Damascus, Mahlab Al-Dawood, stated that the renaissance of textile industries is achieved only by the convergence of science and industry, research and application, the laboratory and the factory, and the university and the labor market. He pointed to the University's role in linking scientific research with industrial needs and in qualifying students and researchers to contribute to the development of this vital sector.
For his part, the Head of the Textile Industries Mechanical Engineering and Technologies Department at the (MEE) Faculty, Abdul Kabir Al-Kittani, indicated that this industry faced significant obstacles and challenges due to the conditions Syria went through during the rule of the ousted regime. He explained that the Faculty, as a specialized academic, scientific, and educational institution in this field, has a duty to contribute to restoring this industry to its normal state to form a main pillar of the national economy.
It is worth noting that the textile industry in Syria experienced a long path of decline and regression during the rule of the ousted regime. This strategic sector, which was considered the backbone of the Syrian economy, transformed from a source of strength into a struggling and destroyed sector, as a result of the war and military operations by the ousted regime, which struck the infrastructure of the textile industry, especially in industrial cities in Aleppo and Damascus.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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