The Vietnam Garment and Textile Group (Vinatex) posted revenue of nearly US$3 million in the first quarter of 2006, a 104 percent increase over the same period last year.

The Viet Tien company led the six Vinatex members, hitting VND10 billion, followed by Nha Be company with VND7.2 billion and Det Phong Phu with VND6.4 billion.

Under Vinatex's estimations, there remain a lot of challenges facing domestic textile and garment enterprises such as capital shortages, the fluctuating labour market and the upward trend in the prices of input materials.

It is very likely that US market export quotas will not meet the demand of many enterprises. Automatic visas granting for eight high-demand categories have been suspended.

The group is pushing up the construction of garment and textile material trading centres in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and plans for the expansion of affiliate fashion and trading companies at home and abroad. Vinatex plans to organise a fashion fair in July 2006 to popularise its trademark.