A boom looms on the horizon for the textile and clothing industry with earnings now reaching $100 million says the TCF council president, Kalpesh Solanki.
However, with new global trends, Fiji’s garment industry continues to face many challenges but it is confident about expanding its export market base.
The industry has rapidly become a critical part of the economic structure of Fiji, exporting garments to Australia, the USA, Europe and New Zealand.
“The TCF council not only recognizes the need to look at what its council members want (which include workers) but also how it can contribute positively to the greater economy of Fiji,” he said.
To achieve this, Mr Solanki said continuous efforts to upskill the 4300 strong work force of whom 70 per cent are women at around 40 factories.
“TCF is ready to work with government on the very important issues of improving productivity, reducing unemployment particularly the youths and to improve compliance to labour laws on the country,” Mr Solanki said.
Attorney General and Minister for Industry and Trade, Aiyaz Sayed – Khaiyum said Fiji had the potential to become a leader in the garment industry. “Unlike the 90s when we focused a lot on volumes, the focus now is on quality and providing in the niche markets and I think that’s a strength that Fiji has,” Sayed – Khaiyum said.
“In order to maintain or strengthen that particular area or focus we must continuously improve ourselves not only in terms of productivity but in terms of standards, compliance, but also being a bit different in the sense of being different.”
In 2010 the Fijian Government gave a $300,000 marketing grant for the next three years from 2010 to help the garment industry position itself internationally.