Chengdu to Set up Garment Industrial Zone

A garment industrial park will debut in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, providing a base to further advance the industry's boom in the country's western regions.

With the planning stage complete, Chengdu West China Clothing Industry Zone will begin construction during the first half of this year, said Luo Mingyang, president of the zone.

Zhou Jinliang, vice-chairman of the China National Garment Association, said the project will be a key part of the Chinese clothing industry's development strategy.

At present a few developed coastal cities in China's eastern parts account for 95 per cent of the industry's output, while the west only takes 2.1 per cent.

The comparative advantage of cheap running costs and abundance of labour are causing a shift by industry from east to west, a key factor for China's labour-intensive garment industry.

The zone will cover 3.4 million square metres and incorporate 300-500 apparel manufacturers.

The total investment will reach 2 billion yuan (US$241.6 million) with an initial investment of 900 million yuan (US$108.74 million) for the first phase, said Luo. (China Daily)