Abit Congress 2018 brings together over 350 industry professionals to debate the future of people in the age of digital transformation
On October 17 and de, the 3rd edition of the Abit International Congress was held in São Paulo, with the topic of “People: Transforming and Being Transformed in the Digital Age.” Held by the Brazilian Textile and Apparel Industry Association (Abit), the event received support from Texbrasil (Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program) – held through a partnership between the Association and Apex-Brasil (Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency).
Abit President Fernando Pimentel opened the event by highlighting the importance of qualification for industry workers. “The event is an opportunity for us to discuss the future that we are building together for the textile and apparel industry,” he stated. “Among other points, let’s debate how technology can help in developing companies and people,” he added. Also in attendance were Marcos Jorge de Lima, of the Ministry of Industry, Foreign Trade and Services (MDIC); Bruno Covas, Mayor of Sao Paulo; Flavio Roscoe, President of the Federation of Industries of the State of Minas Gerais (FIEMG); Juan Quiros, President of SP Negocios, President Emeritus of Abit and Vice President of the CIESP; Rafael Cervone, CEO of Texbrasil and a FIESP representative; and Christiano Braga, Sector Projects Coordinator for Apex-Brasil, as well as other authorities.
Topics covered
Attended by over 350 industry professionals, the event featured debates on the role of technology in the textile industry, changes to the corporate environment and the transformations faced by the market. A study carried out by McKinsey & Company this year, presented by Ana Karina Dias, an executive, during the keynote address, showed that 15.7 million workers in Brazil should be affected by automation. According to McKinsey, around one-third of functions will be automated for 70% of the workforce.
The program had around 20 speakers, including Anthony Knopp, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology – MIT (USA); Naira Bonifacio, of the SCIBr Foundation (USA); Yves Gloy, of the Saxon Textile Research Institute (Germany); Ana Ines Basco, of the Inter-American Development Bank-IDB (USA), Paulo Correa, of C&A; Bruno Jorge Soareas, of the Brazilian Industrial Development Agency – ABDI; Caio Infante, of TMP Worldwide; and Hassan Callegari, of Love Mondays; among others.
The Abit International Congress was sponsored by Senai/Cetiqt, Capricornio, Correios, Lycra, Rhodia, Riachuelo, Santanense, Santista S/A, Vicunha, Abrafas, Abrapa, Canatiba, Cedro, Corttex, Dohler, FCEM, Informa Exhibitions, Rosset, Sinditextil – SP, Trutzschler, Unifi, Anea, Focus Textil, Golden Technology, Paramount, RM2 Grafica, SCMC, SPG Prints, TBM, Tecidos Constancio Vieira, Alpina Têxtil, Dini Têxtil, Hondatar Advogados, Jolitex, Lectra, Grupo Lunelli, Saltorelli, Sancris, and Tremembe Industria Quimica.
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About Texbrasil
The Brazilian Textile and Fashion Industry Internationalization Program (Texbrasil) works with textile and apparel industry companies to develop strategies for success in the global market. Over nearly 20 years, it has helped around 1500 brands to enter the export market, bringing in USD 3.6 billion in business. The Program is conducted by Abit in partnership with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil).
About Abit
Founded in 1957, the Brazilian Association of the Textile and Apparel Industry (Abit) is one of the most important organizations within the country’s economic sectors. It represents the productive force of 33,000 companies nationwide of every size, employing over 1.6 million workers and together generating annual revenues of US$ 36.2 billion.