The garment and textile industry expects to achieve $9.5 billion in export turnover for 2008 and be ranked ninth among the world’s major exporters. The industry employs moree than two million people and is playing a major role in Viet Nam’s progress towards modernisation.
 
At a reception given to 51 delegates representing the top ten 2008 industry enterprises, President Nguyen Minh Triet was full of praise.

"You have made the Viet Nam trade mark known to the world," Triet said.

He also called on the Viet Nam Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) to increase the amount of local material they use from 36 per cent to a higher level.

"Only by increasing local content, will the industry earn more from business value chains," Triet said.

He asked the sector to focus more on fashion design and apply advanced production technology to improve garment quality.

The president also expressed his hope that in the midst of world economic upheaval, the garment and textile sector would overcome the obstacles to increase production and compete with its foreign rivals.

The top 10 enterprises of 2008 include the Viet Tien Garment joint stock company, the Viet Thang joint stock Apparel company, the Phong Phu Coast foreign invested company, the Tien Tien Garment joint stock company, the Garment 10 joint stock company, the Nha Be joint stock company, the Scavi joint stock company, the Hoa Tho Garment and Apparel joint stock corporation, the Sai Gon 3 joint stock company and the Thai Tuan Garment and Apparel joint stock company.

The list was jointly selected by the Viet Nam Garment and Textile Association and the Sai Gon Economic Times.

The US is the top importer of Vietnamese garments and textiles, buying between 55 per cent and 57 per cent of exports, followed by the EU, Japan, Russia, South Korea and Canada.

                                                                                                                    (Vinatex)