The Textile Policy 2014-2019 announced by Pakistan Government , in a bid to make the country ’ s textile industry competitive and sustainable , has failed to achieve its goals due to the lack of will and poor approach . Industry trade bodies in the country such as Pakistan Textile Exporters Association , All Pakistan Textile Mills Association , Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association , Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association , Towel Manufacturers Association , Pakistan Apparel Forum and others have voiced their concerns over the failure of the textile policy . The textile policy , when announced was aimed to fetch the investment of additional US $ 5 billion in machinery and |
technology in addition to increasing value addition from US $ 1 billion per million bales to US $ 2 billion per million bales during the policy period .
The policy was also aimed to increase textile exports from US
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$ 13.1 billion to US $ 26 billion . None of these goals has been met so far . Focus on small and medium enterprises sector was also listed in its priority plan . Apart from some proposals , any furtherance could not be achieved . Any |
appropriate decision to provide a rewarding result to textile sector stakeholders was not taken by the Economic Coordination Committee during the period , the bodies maintained . Around 45 % of the industrial labour force is employed with the textile sector and it contributes more than 9 % to Gross Domestic Products ( GDP ) of the country . The industry consumes more than 42 % banking credit . The failure would further put stress on the country ’ s economy . Despite the Rs . 180 billion support package announced by the Government , the policy lacked the execution . The power supply has been the major issue as well for factories to operate . It ’ s high time that the Government readies action plans to bolster textile trade . |
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Landlocked African nation Ethiopia , one of the emerging apparel sourcing destinations in the world , has reported a surge in the number of manufacturing units in recent years . The rapid expansion of textile and garment sector is benefiting the light industry in the country and transforming the economy as well . The data revealed by the Textile Ministry shows that the textile industry has reported an average growth rate of 51 %.
During the past five to six years , more than 65 textile investment projects have been licensed for foreign investors from countries like Bangladesh , India and China . Markedly , policies and incentives that the country has to offer have steadily started making the country a favourite amongst various leading textile and apparel
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manufacturers to set up their base in Ethiopia .
More than 200 textile units have become operational in the country in recent years , informed Zerihun Abebe , Director of Textile and Apparel Research , Monitoring and Support with Ministry of Industry . Such kind of growth in the sector indicates that Ethiopia will soon become a continental textile hub in the time to come . Rising technological adoption and industrial culture in the industry along with attractive investment incentives and establishment , expansion of industrial parks in Ethiopia are also helping it to report fair growth .
The development of textile industry is helping Ethiopia to gain capital to position the country where it can focus on capital-intensive heavy industries
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in the future . The issue of raw materials availability , majorly cotton , is also being taken into consideration , in order to enhance productivity and global competitiveness . It is worth mentioning here that Ethiopia |
posted a 23.1 % surge in its global textile and clothing ( T & C ) exports during the first eight months of FY 2017-18 that began on 8th July 2017 . The country has exported T & C worth US $ 68.5 million during the said period . |