Garment manufacturers from Asean countries discussed the challenges facing the industry and strategies to promote region-wide cooperation at a recent two-day meeting in Phnom Penh. The ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX) meeting, organised by Garment Manufacturers Association of Cambodia (GMAC), aimed to discuss problems such as how to lower production costs and add value to products.
One of the important subjects discussed was the common stance of AFTEX on the Rule of Origin (ROO) for garments for RCEP (regional comprehensive economic partnership), which is a mega Free Trade Agreement between Asean and China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.
AFTEX was set up in 1978 and the group been able to maintain the spirit of collaboration and unity through regular meetings organised in all countries on a rotation basis. Yuttana Silpsarnvitch, Chairman of National Federation of Thai Textile Industries at the meeting noted that while there are differences in each country, textile representatives are working to combine the supply chain among the Asean countries to help reduce costs. According to him Singapore wants to focus on branding, trading, and design, however Myanmar, Laos, and Cambodia aim to promote productivity transform from CMP [cut-mark-pack] to FOB [free on board]
