Local manufacturers to fulfil school uniform requirements

The school uniform requirement for 2009 would be fulfilled by local textile manufacturers, as it was in the previous year. The Textile Development Ministry has already made arrangements in this regard.

The Education Ministry has reported that about 10.5 million metres of textile materials would be needed for school uniforms next year. Accordingly, eight million metres of white textile material, 2.5 million metres of blue and white trouser material and 260,000 metres of robe material are required. As it's difficult to manfacture the entire required quota locally within the specified period, 30 per cent of the requirement would be manufactured locally. The rest would be imported as unfinished material and bleached locally.

Ten small and medium textile factories have already been entrusted with the task of manufacturing five million metres of school uniform material that is required for 2009. Their quality would be tested and ascertained by the Textile Training and Service Centre.

By manufacturing the school uniform textile material locally, the Government would save a lot of foreign exchange and promote local expertise and efficiency in this field. This would result in direct employment for over 10,000 people and indirect employment for over 100,000 people.