Low quality textile products hinder market growth

By Chanuka Mannapperuma

The clothing and Textile Industry is experiencing a major crisis in foreign markets due to lack of quality products. Deputy Director Textile and Training and Services Centre, S. Kuruppumullage told the Sunday Observer. He said that people should be made aware of low quality products which have entered the local market.

Explaining the issues connected to the crisis in the textile industry, he said, quality, quantity ingredients such as dyes and chemicals needed more attention.

He said China, Bangladesh, Vietnam and all countries in the South and South East Asian region have now become competitors with Sri Lanka." The competition began with the introduction of the free quota system, he said.

This is an industry which contributes 40 percent to the Gross Domestic Product and 50 percent foreign exchange earnings. The industry generates more than one million direct and indirect job opportunities. This industry is one of the main industries in the country.

Our main exporters are the United states, UK and the European countries. We have a good response from them, but the present crisis makes it difficult to meet the demand, he said.

In order to provide a better knowledge for those engaged in this field, the Clothing Industry Training Institute and TT and SC as a part of its new strategy to educate and develop the textile and apparel sector of the Country, conducted a seminar on supply chain management which is vital to survive in a competitive global scenario.