Garment, textile group honoured
State President Nguyen Minh Triet has hailed the efforts made by the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group (Vinatex) to become the country’s spearhead export sector.
“Over the past 15 years Vietnam’s garment and textile sector has turned the country into one of the top ten exporters of garments in the world,” said President Triet at a ceremony in Hanoi on May 27 to mark the 15th anniversary of Vinatex’s establishment and its honour to receive the Gold Star order, the highest decoration from the State.
However, he asked the group to keep progressing and to lift Vietnam to an even higher position on the world’s list of top garment manufacturers.
Vinatex needs to pay more attention to increasing its sales in the domestic market, said Mr Triet, adding that the more products it sells in Vietnam, the more competitive it will become. This will subsequently open up more markets for products made in Vietnam.
He stressed on the group’s strategic aims to enhance personnel training and human resource development.
The President also urged relevant ministries and agencies to come with new policies for Vinatex in particular, and the garment and textile sector in general, to remain the country’s main hard currency earner.
Vinatex is expected to earn US$10.5 billion from garment and textile exports in 2010, 12 times higher than the figure recorded 15 years ago. It now has trade ties with more than 70 countries and the group’s products are sold in over 3,000 supermarkets and shops nationwide.
Vietnam is the second largest exporter of garments and textiles to the US, but ranks third in Japan, and ninth in the European Union.