The 7th edition of the international textiles and apparel exhibition ITF Intertex Tunisia 2025 opened on 16 October at the Foire Internationale de Sousse in Sousse, Tunisia, signalling renewed momentum for the country’s textile sector as it seeks to deepen partnerships across Europe, Africa and the Mediterranean region. The three-day show, running through October 18, has drawn an impressive roster of exhibitors and visiting buyers, underscoring Tunisia’s ambition to strengthen its role as a regional clothing and textile production hub.
Organisers report that over 200 exhibitors from more than 15 countries will be present during the event, alongside thousands of business representatives and international sourcing delegations.
The fair is designed to showcase the full textile value chain—covering fibres, yarns, fabrics, ready-to-wear garments, as well as textile machinery and digital printing technologies.
In his opening remarks, the Governor of Sousse highlighted the strategic importance of Tunisia’s textile industry as both a major export contributor and a key employer in the national economy. With a workforce of over 160,000 across the textile and apparel sector and strong export linkages with the European Union, the industry remains a pillar of Tunisia’s industrial strategy.
He emphasised that the exhibition not only promotes production but also underpins the transition to higher-value activities, including sustainable manufacturing, circular economy initiatives and smart supply-chain integration.
The exhibition floor is hosting a robust programme of business-to-business meetings, trend-setting fashion-shows and innovation zones for start-ups, allowing attendees to explore emerging techniques such as digital textile printing, eco-fibres and traceable garment manufacturing. These offerings reflect the wider shifts underway in global apparel sourcing and production, where buyers increasingly demand transparency, flexibility and sustainability. The organisers say that the matchmaking platform of the fair is tailored to help exhibitors connect with buyers across Africa and Europe, aligning with Tunisia’s geographic advantage as a gateway between those markets.
For Tunisian companies, the event serves as both a showcase and a sourcing venue. Local manufacturers are using the platform to demonstrate how they are upgrading capacities, moving beyond basic garment assembly into integrated supply-chain services, such as knitting, finishing and logistics. The presence of international companies further underscores the growing attractiveness of Tunisia as a competitive destination, with its established workforce, advantageous trade agreements (notably with the European Union) and proximity to major fashion markets.
While the global textile market remains highly competitive—marked by cost pressures, rising energy prices and shifting trade patterns—the Sousse fair signals that Tunisia is positioning itself to respond. Delegates at the fair report that innovation in textile machinery, supply-chain digitisation and sustainability credentials featured prominently in discussions. The exhibition, therefore, is not just a trade-show moment but also a barometer of how the North African textile industry is adapting to broader structural forces. Implementing circular-economy practices and reducing environmental footprint are now серьёзно on the agenda.
As the event continues, local industry associations and government bodies are monitoring leads and export contracts that may emerge from the show. Given that previous editions drew some 6,000 professional buyers from 26 countries and over 170 exhibiting firms from 17 countries, the expectation is that this edition may surpass those figures and drive new deals for Tunisia’s textile and apparel industry.
