Garment exporters should pay more attention to non-quota markets
(12/16/2003 -- 22:21GMT+7)
Ha Noi, Dec. 16 (VNA) - "Garment businesses should not stick to the US market only but many non-quota markets such as Japan, Canada and the Middle East," said Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan.
He was speaking at a conference entitled "Challenges and Solutions to the Garment Sector Beyond 2004" held by the Ministry of Trade (MOT) in Ha Noi on Tuesday.
Khoan told garment makers to take steps to boost the use of local materials. Designs should not copy from abroad only but draw on Vietnamese inspiration as well, he said, adding that trademarks and quality should be given proper attention while directions of development should be made clear to avoid trivial problems barring businesses from access to quota markets. He requested industry leaders take actions against trade frauds harmful to Viet Nam's interests in overseas markets and to explore a method that would best allocate export quotas among businesses.
Speaking at the conference, Trade Minister Truong Dinh Tuyen estimated this year's garment export value at 3.6 billion USD, calling it a "great accomplishment" and announced the sector's target of increasing its export turnover to 4.2 billion USD in 2004. The target was virtually challenging, he said, but necessary because it would offset a possible decline in other export staples to keep the country's export performance on track.
Tuyen also pointed out opportunities ahead such as increased quotas from the EU and the Government's incentive policy for exports to non-quota markets.
He said 2004 would be a decisive year for Vietnamese garments to claim larger shares of the EU and US markets before quota mechanisms will be scrapped under the ATC agreement.
To boost garment exports in 2004 and beyond, the MOT will focus on negotiations of quotas for exports to the US, EU and Turkey and encourage businesses to develop non-quota markets, non-quota items, new markets, new products, and trademarks with aid from the Export Support Programme. The MOT called on businesses to work towards qualitative development so as to establish long-lasting relationships with foreign partners. It was decided that in order to increase the processed and local content in an export product, businesses should develop raw material supplies for the textile industry and make more in-depth investments in garment accessory production.
