The Anil
ANIL – Portuguese Wool Textile Association represents textile companies that are active in the sector of Wool in Portugal. ANIL his always ensuring and promoting the best interests of the wool industry and it`s associate members.
The first Industrial Wool Association emerged in 1820, known as “Grémio da Covilhã”, Covilhã was a city with a considerable number of factories. This “Grémio” was headquartered in Lisbon. It was succeeded in 1889 by the Industrial and Commercial Association of Covilhã, who’s first Board President was Comendador José Maria da Silva Campos Melo, an industrialist and philanthropist, who greatly promoted modernization of the wool industry and created the first Industrial School in Portugal, where for the next 80 years technicians for this industry were trained.
This association lasted until 1936, when, after long conversations with the government and acceptance of the conditions demanded by the industrialists, after the demands accepted, it became a Federation, along with its respective “Grémios”.
The National Federation of Wool Industries, had has President for 33 years Dr. João Ubach Chaves, who brought important values, created the Welfare Fund for the Wool Industry with special benefits, ordered the construction of a housing development for the industry workers. The total cost of the investment, in 1949, was over 125,000.00 Euros, coming totally from his own funds.
With the end of the corporate system after the 1974 Portuguese Revolution, ANIL was founded, and Comendador Paulo Nina de Oliveira was elected President, who had a notable impact in ANIL and int he Portuguese Textile Industry history.
He was succeeded in 1995 by Dr. Joaquim Mota Veiga, member of the Board since 1979 and influential Vice President of ANIL from 1986 to 1995, marked by his untiring fight against unrestrained globalization of world trade.
Currently the Board President is Engº. José Alberto Robalo, who has continued the excellent work of his predecessors.
Missions
In 1997, ANIL organized a trade mission to the United States of America, one of the markets with the greatest potential and interest for its members. This reflected ANIL’s increased efforts to put its members in contact with potential clients and/or investors, as well as agents.
In 2000, it decided to invest in an emerging market, i.e. Argentina, thus managing to bring the national Wool Sub-sector closer to a new high potential market.
In 2003, it participated in a trade mission to China, a country with one of the most important world markets.
In 2004, ANIL, associated with Selectiva Moda, participated in an important trade visit to Las Vegas and in 2005 to Moscow.
A trade mission with ANIL and Anit-Lar in 2005 visited the Morocco market, during which the Maghreb market was explored. In 2006 ANIL took part in a trade mission to Tunisia, which was sponsored by CITEVE (Technological Centre for the Textile and Clothing Industries).
In 2009 and 2010, ANIL realized market prospection`s and organized business meetings in emerging markets as Russia, Romania, Poland, Hungary and other`s. Were ANIL members had the opportunity to contact directly with the markets and their companies.
ANIL have in AICEP (Portuguese Business Development Agency) an essential partner for all international missions and projects, promoting what best is made in Portugal and in the Textile Industry.
Business Meetings
ANIL organized three business meetings for businessmen from the national textile industry and the Spanish clothing industry. As a result of these events, there was an increase in exports to Spain. These events took place at the ANIL headquarters over a period of two years, the last of which took place in October 1999.
The textile business meetings have the objective to promote business between Portuguese companies and international ones, as example USA, China, Russia, Spain and other`s. As consequence, these events increase significantly the ANIL members trade with other countries and are excellent opportunities to contact directly with the markets.
