Editorial

Security

Politics

World

Letters

Sports

Obituaries

Archives

The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) organised a market development program to export Sri Lankan garments to the French market. Sri Lanka's apparel have primarily been exported to UK, European Union (EU) and USA. The aim of the JAAF market development program is to build a competitive market for apparel exports in France and Germany.

Chairman, Marketing Committee JAAF Kumar Mirchandani said practices adopted during the multi-fibre agreement were no longer valid. The apparel industry is globally competitive and buyers are demanding quality products. We need to bring value addition to our products and improve the image in the world market.

We need to provide better services to our buyers and come up with new strategies to be globally competitive. Marketing has changed from being reactive to pro active. Therefore the apparel industry has to develop to be fast, efficient and good to be successful in the market.

Mirchandani said there are only good and fast companies and not big and small. Even a small company could be successful if its turnout is quick and good. Today there are big apparel companies that are backward due to slow and low quality production.

JAAF President Tuley Cooray said we do not get preferential treatment as many other countries enjoy. We got duty free concessions from the EU this year and was selected for GSP Plus.

We must make full use of the GSP Plus facility. Capitalising on it would make us eligible for duty free concessions when exporting garments to the EU.

It is important that the apparel industry makes good use of GSP Plus to develop marketing skills. EU assistance is vital to undertake trade missions not only in the apparel sector but also other sectors such as gems and jewellery.

The training program in France is under the guidance of Jean-Michel Glasman, an international consultant focussed on developing companies to become exporters with value added products.

The nine companies including the SME sector participating in the program received training on fashion to capture the French market. The French consultant visited factories in Sri Lanka and outlined how to fashion products in France. The companies were directed on developing fashion trends, types, styles and fabrication to meet the needs of the French buyers during the 2007 spring and summer seasons.

(LF)

| News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security |
| Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries | Junior Observer |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.