When asked about the strategy being used by Sri Lanka to compete with the other apparel exporting countries, he said, “Sri Lanka is a high quality reliable destination. We have to focus on ethical and green manufacturing, along with which we also need to focus on speedy deliveries”. The Sri Lankan clothing manufacturing and exporting sector is working towards a sustainable growth by meeting mid and long-term challenges. The immediate challenge in the next five years is to develop backward and forward linkages in the textile value-chain.

The apparel industry is aiming to reach US $5 billion in exports from the sector by 2015. The major challenges faced by the industry will be to control costs, to operate within the current labour laws and to set up an effective supply chain.

Fibre2fashion spoke exclusively to Mr Rohan Masakorala, Secretary General of Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF), which is the apex body for the apparel manufacturing and export sector in the island country.

When quizzed about the major challenges faced by the industry to bring growth in exports, he answered by saying, “We need to develop trade relations mainly with China, Japan, India, Brazil and also develop trade arrangements, particularly in the North American markets, along with which we need to increase productivity and offer something different in the markets."

When asked about the strategy being used by Sri Lanka to compete with the other apparel exporting countries, he said, “Sri Lanka is a high quality reliable destination. We have to focus on ethical and green manufacturing, along with which we also need to focus on speedy deliveries”.
POST: 2024-11-24