As the curtain came down on ITMA 2007 in Munich, there was no doubt in the minds of many exhibitors & visitors alike that ITMA will retain a strong presence as a European based show. Selecting Barcelona as the next venue for ITMA 2011 is a happy departure from the traditional thinking on the part of CEMATEX, owners of the show. In infrastructure, stand arrangements and other facilities, ITMA Munich has scored the highest marks and doubts have been expressed whether there could be a repeat of the same excellence in future. The technological prowess displayed by the 1451 exhibitors also convinced the visitors that technology providers have a lot to offer to the market and continue to invest in research and development as well as customer service. One example is the nanotechnology in which numerous multifunctional developments have come up through technological advancements. With machinery manufacturers showing more of end products complementing their technologies in such fairs, the industry is getting more convinced of the yet more promises in the future. The 'Research and Education Area', making its debut in this ITMA demonstrated the importance of research for the future growth of textile industry. 

The textile industry is at the centre of a highly competitive, global market. Exhibitions like ITMA play a crucial role and the successfully combined show of ITMA Asia + CITME 2008 is a step in the right direction. But still there are divisive forces pulling from other corners to dilute the importance of international and national exhibitions. The industry has to seek a method in this madness and the formula should be one exhibition every year for machinery in the national-level and one each in Europe & Asia every four years, following each other. Exhibitions are serious business and to dabble at it is a criminal waste of efforts & time. ITMA Munich has shown how professionally an exhibition can be organised to spur the growth of textile industry. 

Many countries, including India, are yet to learn from the ITMA lessons.