Sri Lanka is aiming at a quantum jump in apparel exports despite the market scenario being grim. The country is targeting $50 billion in apparel exports by 2020. The apparel categories span sportswear, lingerie, lounge wear, bridal wear, work wear, swim wear and children’s wear.

Sri Lanka’s apparel exports are the main contributor in the country’s total exports, which stood at $4.5 billion in 2013 and surged by 9 per cent to $4.9 billion in 2014. In the January-September period this year Sri Lanka’s apparel exports fetched $3.6 billion.

Sri Lanka has become a reliable and high quality manufacturer on the global map over the course of time and it caters to reputed international brands like Victoria’s Secret, GAP, Liz Claiborne, Next, Jones New York, Nike, Tommy Hilfiger, Pink, Triumph, Ann Taylor and Speedo.

Sri Lanka’s apparel export is the most significant and dynamic contributor to the economy. The industry has enjoyed epic growth levels over the past four decades and is today Sri Lanka’s primary foreign exchange earner accounting for 40 per cent of total exports and 52 per cent of industrial products exports. The industry is almost entirely privately owned.