Truong Van Cam, Deputy Secretary General of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) feels, many textile & garment companies are leaving the market because of unstable policies. Speaking at a workshop held by the World Bank (WB) and the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), he recalled how a garment company wanted to import a printer to make products for export and it took them six months to obtain import license.

Cam said on Thoi Bao Kinh Te Saigon, that this was because the Decree 60 stipulated that business owners must have junior college’s degree to be able to import printers. A business in Nam Dinh province, which employs 2,000 workers, said it has to pay VND40-50 billion additionally every month because of the required higher minimum wage and trade union fee. The State’s policies need to be designed in a way to encourage investors to do business and stay in the market, commented Cam.

Anther analyst speaking at the workshop observed that the government seems to be too optimistic about opportunities to be brought to the textile and garment sector by TPP.