Vietnamese textile apparel industry has consecutively gained relatively high growth speed of the export over the past many years; its export turnover achieved nearly 7.8 billions USD until 2007. 
 
Decision No 36 dated March, 10th 2008 by Prime Minister of the Government has approved development strategy of Vietnamese textile apparel industry until the year 2015 orientation until the year 2020 for developing the industry according to the orientation of specification, modernization; creating a leap in terms of added value of products through implementing 3 programs (cotton planting, high quality fabrics weaving and human resources training) that are decisive for sustainable development, long-standing stabilization of Vietnamese Textile Apparel industry.

Vietnam Nationl Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) – the largest entrepreneur of Vietnamese Textile Apparel industry has played key role in organizing and taking part in implementing 3 above-mentioned programs. Therefore, Vinatex has been rapidly implementing its assigned tasks.

In terms of production development program of cotton, the aim and development strategy from now to the year 2015 is restoring cotton planting area and expanding irritated cotton acreage towards the capacities of about 40,000 tons cotton fiber and even 60,000 tons by 2015. Planting cotton dispersedly (co-operative, household) in the real over the past time showed many weak points. For examples, area and capacities were unstable, cotton grade classification during harvest had not been carried because of climate, cultivation method and cotton prices in the world… Therefore, in this cotton development program, Vinatex put forward the Plan given preferential to irritated and concentrated cotton planting; applying new cotton varieties and new production process in order to increase productivity, stabilize quality and annual capacities provided for Vietnamese textile industry. The Plan for irritated and concentrated cotton planting is expected to be implemented in central littoral provinces (Binh Thuan, Ninh Thuan, Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Quang Ngai) and partially in Tay Nguyen (Gia Lai, Đak Lak, Dak Nong). It needs total investment capital of 3,500 billions VND for land compensation, irrigation system, variety production…

In line with development of natural fibers and yarns, Vinatex and Vietnam National Petroleum Group founded Petrochemical and synthetic fiber joint stock company to build the first Polyester fiber production plant in Vietnam in Dinh Vu industrial zone, Hai Phong with its capacities of 400 tons of popular fiber, 40 tons of special fiber and 50 tons of chip per day. This plant is anticipated to go into production by 2011 and satisfy 40% domestic demand on synthetic fiber  by 2020 with total investment capital of 3000 billions VND.

With promotion of auxiliary industrial development, Vinatex has been rapidly implementing building two centers for materials and ancillary materials supply in Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City to provide sufficiently and timely and materials and ancillary materials for all customers as well as increase business effect.

Vinatex has given preferential to woven fabrics used for producing export apparel products. Dyeing and product completion section plays an important role in production process that provides high qualify fabrics satisfied market demand. The target of Vietnamese Textile Apparel industry is gainning 500 millions square meters by 2010 and 1 billions square meters of fabrics by 2015. However, up to now, dyeing and product completion has been the weakest section of Vietnamese textile enterprises. It is difficult to strengthen and improve dyeing, printing and product completing section because it needs big capital, advanced techniques and it also pollutes environment.

Therefore, in order to strengthen this section, first of all, we have to focus on building centers for sewage processing in industrial zones in Hoa Xa (Nam Dinh), Hoa Khanh (Da Nang), Ben Luc (Long An), Binh An (Dong Nai) and new centers in Thai Binh, Quang Nam. This is very important condition helped to absort 940 millions USD of both domestic and foreign investment capital in 2006 – 2010 period and 1.765 billions USD in 2011 – 1015 period for large-scale weaving, dyeing projects.

In 2008 – 1010 periods, Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group concentrates to cooperate with its partners to implement 5 priority projects in order to dye and complete 270 millions square meters fabrics per year by 1010.

The program of human resources training plays the decisive role in textile and apparel development strategy until the year 2015. It is because that this program helps strengthen management ability, create higher added value products to make products more domestic. It is a fact that most apparel products have been low-cost ones up to now, we have lacked special and fashionable products and we have had to do outwork for foreign partners because of leading specialists, professional managers and designers. This human resources training program will combine many training forms for many subjects from leading management specialists to managers, technology engineers, technical, financial and marketing employees and skillful workers depending on levels, demands of business types.

We believe that if we implement successfully these 3 programs (cotton planting, fabrics weaving and human resources training) and 6 big solution groups (investment, market promotion, technology development, materials and ancillary materials and finance), Vietnamese textile apparel industry will make a turning point, preponderantly develop in terms of both quality and volumes thanks to typical and famous products; domestication rate will gain to 50% by 2010 and 60% by 2015 from 32% of current level, export turnover will reach 12 billions USD by 2010 and 18 billions USD by 2015.

                                                                                            By Vu Duc Giang