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. |