Abit International Congress Celebrates 10 Years with a Focus on Productivity

The Brazilian textile and apparel industry is preparing for a significant milestone: the 10th Abit International Congress, which will take place on October 29th and 30th, 2025. The event, which returns to the city of São Paulo in the prestigious auditorium of the Federation of Industries of the State of São Paulo (FIESP), symbolizes a decade of crucial debates and the consolidation of a fundamental space for strategic reflection in the Brazilian textile and apparel sector. With the central theme “Productivity as a catalyst for growth and prosperity,” this edition promises to be a great stimulator of ideas, encouraging the reinvention of models, processes, and policies at all levels. Registration is still open

Fernando Valente Pimentel, CEO of Abit, emphasizes the importance of productivity as an axis of structural transformation. “Productivity is not just an economic metric – it is a bridge between effort and results, between the present and the future. By placing it at the center of this Congress, we want to provoke reflection on how to grow with quality, innovation, and a positive impact,” he explains. The program was carefully designed to bring together business leaders, public policymakers, international experts, and representatives of partner institutions, ensuring an environment rich in knowledge and networking for congress participants from all countries.

Debate Panels: An In-Depth Look at Future Productivity The Congress agenda is packed with panels that address productivity from various perspectives, each with its own strategic importance for the development of the sector:

• Panel 1 | Technological Innovations in the T&C Industry: This panel is vital for exploring how technology drives efficiency and competitiveness. Digitalization, automation, and Industry 4.0 are key elements for optimizing processes, reducing costs, and increasing production agility.
• Panel 2 | Human Capital: The Heart of Productivity: Focused on the essential role of people in the success of industry, this debate emphasizes that productivity is not just about machines, but also about the training, well-being, and motivation of employees. Investing in human capital is essential to innovate and maintain a high level of performance. The panel will feature Alexandre Ferreira (Corporate Director of Human Resources at Vicunha Têxtil), among other panelists to be confirmed.
• Panel 3 | Public Policies and National Productivity: This panel is crucial for understanding how the regulatory environment and government initiatives can foster or constrain productive growth. It will discuss the importance of policies that encourage innovation, competitiveness, and investment. Featured guests include José Ronaldo de Souza (Leme Consultores), José Luis Gordon (Director of Product Development, Innovation, and Foreign Trade at BNDES), Igor Rocha (Chief Economist at FIESP), and Uallace Moreira Lima (Secretary of Industrial Development, Innovation, Commerce, and Services at MDIC).
• Panel 4 | Resilient and Efficient Supply Chains: In an increasingly volatile global scenario, the resilience and efficiency of supply chains are essential to ensure production continuity and the ability to respond to unforeseen events. This panel will address strategies to optimize flows and mitigate risks. It will feature contributions from Laurent Aucouturier (Partner at Gherzi Textil Organisation AG) and Dawid Wajs (Head of Cotton for Latin America at Louis Dreyfus Company), with others to be confirmed.
• Panel 5 | Sustainability and Productivity: An Integrated Path: The discussion on sustainability has gone from being a differentiator to a pillar of today’s productivity. This panel will explore how environmentally and socially responsible practices can generate gains in efficiency, reputation, and long-term value. Ricardo Formento (Head of WEG’s Energy Efficiency Business Center) and Carla Joana Silva (Director of the Chemistry and Biotechnology Department at Citeve) will participate, with others to be confirmed.
• Panel 6 | Strategic Investments for Increased Productivity: Focuses on how the intelligent allocation of resources in technology, infrastructure, and innovation is the driving force behind increased productivity and value creation. This panel is essential for guiding decision-makers on where and how to invest to achieve maximum returns. Renan Wernz Tolotti (Executive Director of Arrazantty) will share his experience on the topic, along with others to be confirmed.

The Congress will also feature opening and closing lectures, as well as special sessions and cocktail receptions, further promoting interaction and networking among participants. The Abit 2025 International Congress, which has strategic partners SENAIS Cetiqt and Systêxtil, already has more than 40 sponsors to date.