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Malaysia:Legally-binding road map for Asean textile sector planned |
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2004-11-23
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Anticipation of stiff and competitive markets globally, has initiated the process of setting up a planned road map to strengthen the textile industry in South-East Asia.
The proposed road map will be put up for discussions by the Asean Federation of Textile Industries (Aftex) during the 10th Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) Summit on November 29-30 in Vientiane, Laos.
According to Malaysian Textile Manufacturers Association (MTMA) Executive Director Andrew Hong, the proposed road map will, among other things, seek elimination of tariffs on all textile products in the region by the end of the year.
Earlier, Asean member countries (which include Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines and Brunei) had agreed to eliminate import tariffs on textiles by 2007.
Also, textile tariffs for Asean’s four newest and less developed members — Vietnam Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar — will end in 2010.
‘Green Lane,’ recommended by the roads map calls for trucks transporting textiles crossing border without any inspections or restrictions, Hong explained.
He said the proposal is aimed at strengthening the textile industry’s competitiveness, to face the challenges in view of the expiry of the quota agreement on textiles under the World Trade Organisation’s Agreement on Textile and Clothing (ATC) by end of 2004. The global import quota phase-out pact, the ATC, was signed in 1995.
The expiry of quota system from next year will see the world market grow at an estimated value of US$350 billion (US$1 = RM3.80) per year.
Seeking closer cooperation among member countries would ensure not only survival but ensure regional cooperation like in the case of Aftex, which was established in 1978 as a regional platform for the industry to work together. It consists of five national textile associations namely MTMA, Federasi Industri Tekstil Indonesia, Confederation of Garment Exporters of The Philippines Inc, Textile and Garment Manufacturers’ Association of Singapore and National Federation of Thai Textile Industries. |
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