Remembering the Glorious Journey, Uniting the Power for Progress——Speech by He Ye, Vice President of the China National Light Industry Council at the 40th Anniversary of the China Sewing Machinery Association

Today, we gather here with great enthusiasm to look back to the glorious journey of China's sewing machinery industry and the China Sewing Machinery Association over the past 40 years, and to plan the innovative future of CSMA and the industry in the new era.

Over the past 40 years, CSMA has centered its efforts on building a service team in the secretariat that is pragmatic, efficient, innovative, professional, self-disciplined, harmonious and progressive, actively developed platforms for guiding and promoting technological advancement in the industry, for industry research and information dissemination, for brand building, for talent cultivation, for industry supervision and coordination, and for market promotion and international exchanges. CSMA has carried out a great deal of beneficial exploration in terms of industry self-discipline, autonomation, and the establishment of systems and mechanisms for scientific and standardized development.

CSMA has played a vital role as a bridge and link, serving national strategies, contributing to major industry technology policy research, special plans from ministries and commissions, and industrial planning. It has improved its governance mechanisms, enhanced service levels, and established branches for technology, market, spare parts, digital control, embroidery machines, and young entrepreneurs. It has guided enterprises in areas such as technological innovation, quality improvement, market development, international cooperation, informatization, standardization, and talent cultivation, leading enterprises toward orderly and healthy development. CSMA has strengthened international exchanges, established high-level global meetings and study mechanisms for the sewing machinery industry, gauging the trends in sewing machinery industries worldwide, and actively guiding enterprises to engage in international cooperation, thereby elevating China's international standing in the field. By integrating resources across the industrial chain, CSMA has expanded communication and collaboration channels within the sewing industry, advancing the collaborative development and integration of upstream and downstream sectors, and continuously extending its service areas. CSMA has received numerous prestigious awards, including "National Advanced Civil Organization" from the Ministry of Civil Affairs, "Advanced Collective of National Light Industry" from the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the China National Light Industry Council, and "Standardized and Regulated Pilot Industry Association Party Branch" from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council.

Over the past 40 years, we have personally witnessed many leaps in the industry. Each milestone is a testament to the joint efforts and wisdom of CSMA and the industry. CSMA has led industry enterprises to persist in independent innovation, continuously breaking through technical barriers, actively promoting product structure adjustment, and the transformation and upgrading of the industrial chain. This has resulted in a leap from household sewing machines to industrial sewing machines, from small family workshop-type factories to large-scale industrial production, from traditional mechanized manufacturing to automated and intelligent manufacturing. The industry has become an outstanding member of the advanced manufacturing sector in light industry, contributing indispensable "Chinese wisdom" to the global sewing machinery field.

The foundation of scientific research and manufacturing capabilities in the industry has steadily improved, with technological progress advancing rapidly. The shift from follower-type innovation to independent innovation has resulted in breakthroughs in core technologies such as institutional optimization, control algorithms, equipment interconnectivity, and remote operation. Systematic, modular, and intelligent products have continuously emerged. New technological applications, including intelligent sensors, machine vision, material handling, and cloud platforms, are leading the international front. The modern sewing machinery industry system, encompassing research and development, advanced manufacturing, trade, and services, has continuously improved, completing a perfect transformation from traditional manufacturing to advanced equipment manufacturing. Product variety has grown, quality has improved, and service areas have expanded, from simple garment stitching to sectors such as luggage, home goods, sports, building materials, automobiles, and aerospace. These efforts now provide efficient and high-quality products and services to over 200 countries and regions globally.

Over the past 40 years, China has become the largest and most important center for the production and sales of sewing machinery in the world, a monumental achievement that we should all be proud of. Generations of Chinese sewing machine practitioners, with their unwavering belief in development and fearless pioneering spirit, together with CSMA as a platform to overcome various obstacles, fighting tirelessly and persistently. Every step forward in the industry is the result of countless people’s efforts and sweat.

From small to large, from weak to strong, the industry's scale remains the world's largest, with nearly 2,000 manufacturing enterprises, an annual output of 14 million sets of various equipment, accounting for over 85% of the global total, and providing over 95% of the global supply of parts for sewing machines. Products are exported to more than 200 countries and regions, 4 out of every 5 industrial sewing machines worldwide are made in China. Over the past 40 years, the total output value has grown from 1.03 billion yuan to over 60 billion yuan, and export volume has increased from 17.26 million dollar to 3.4 billion dollar. The industry has developed from a traditional light industry consumer goods sector with a single product structure and outdated overall level to an advanced manufacturing sector integrating optics, mechanics, and electronics, providing intelligent sewing technology solutions across industries such as apparel, leather, bags, home textiles, automobiles, and aerospace. We have not only built a powerful sewing machinery manufacturing nation but have successfully realized our dream of becoming a sewing machinery manufacturing powerhouse.

Over these 40 years, the business philosophy of generations of sewing machine workers has been refined through the trials of the transition from planned to market economy. A large number of leading enterprises with independent brands and strong international competitiveness have emerged, along with a group of younger, more mature, and confident entrepreneurs who have solidified the foundation for a strong industry. These are the pillars that will ensure the industry's continued leadership in the global sewing machine market. Domestic brands such as Jack, SGG, Zoje, and Standard have evolved from joint ventures to multinational mergers, from self-sufficiency to global integrated brand marketing. The industry structure has undergone a major transformation, with more than 95% of enterprises now focused on industrial sewing machines, with private enterprises accounting for over 95% of the market. By now, more than 40 enterprises in the industry generate annual output exceeding 100 million yuan, and the concentration of market share has significantly increased. China now accounts for six of the top ten global companies.

At this moment, as we look back into and celebrate the 40 years of achievements in the industry and association, our hearts are filled with gratitudes. We are grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime era, which has provided a stage for us to realize our ambitions; we are thankful for the leaders, both full-time and part-time, who have faithfully carried out their missions, serving the development of the industry; and we are grateful to the entrepreneurs who have worked tirelessly for the industry, as they have made China’s position as a world leader in sewing machinery a reality. Let us extend our deepest respect and gratitude to them!

The achievements are hard-earned, but we must continue to move forward with determination. At present, China’s sewing machinery industry faces the dual challenges of a complex global political and economic situation and sluggish domestic demand. The global sewing machinery industry landscape is undergoing deep adjustments, with international market demand shifting and domestic competition intensifying. The industry urgently needs to overcome the economic downturn and weak demand, seeking new paths for transformation and upgrading. Meanwhile, the state has introduced a series of policies to stabilize growth and stimulate consumption. With the rapid development of new business models and the widespread application of small batch, quick response production in the apparel sector, China's sewing machinery industry is poised to embrace new opportunities for digital transformation and green development.

Earlier, Secretary-General Chen Ji presented the key and innovative work of CSMA in 2025. The year 2025 marks the final year of the 14th Five-Year Plan and the first year of the 15th Five-Year Plan, and it will be crucial for the sewing machinery industry’s "Strong Nation Development Strategy" and "Industry High-Quality Development Guidance" to achieve the goal of becoming a world leader. CSMA's work will closely align with the characteristics of the times and development requirements, ensuring pragmatic and effective progress.

I take this opportunity, on behalf of the China National Light Industry Council, to offer four points of hope for CSMA’s future work:

First, strengthen Party building to lead the industry’s high-quality development. We must earnestly study and implement the important instructions of General Secretary Xi Jinping, strengthen theoretical education, elevate our political stance, and unswervingly push for the implementation of central decisions and policies in the industry. We must establish a new era for Party building in the industry, converting the Party’s political and organizational advantages into competitive advantages, thus leading the industry toward high-quality development.

Second, implement central policies to promote the industry’s new development. We must fully implement the spirit of the 20th Party Congress and the second and third plenary sessions of the 20th Central Committee, using technological innovation as a guide, focusing on cultivating new productive forces, strengthening the modern industrial system, and driving the industry toward high-end, intelligent, and green transformation.

Third, deepen exchange and cooperation to solidify the foundation for a strong nation. We must enhance our confidence in development, strengthen communication and cooperation with the international sewing machinery industry, upstream and downstream industrial chains, and society at large. We need to promote the sharing and optimal allocation of resources such as technology, market, and talent, and build broader platforms for exchange, thereby increasing international influence and guiding global industry development.

Forth, strengthen internal development to enhance service capacity. We must implement the Ministry of Civil Affairs' overall requirements of "serving the country, serving society, serving the people, and serving the industry." This includes further expanding and enriching the functions of the Association's "one center, six platforms," innovating work approaches, improving service quality, strengthening internal governance, and enhancing team development. Our goal is to build an excellent association that unites and empowers, is self-reliant, trusted by the government, supported by the industry, valued by enterprises, and indispensable at a higher level.

Let us remember our glorious history and unite in our efforts. With full confidence, let us embrace change and work together to create an even brighter future for China's sewing machinery industry!