HCM CITY — The Vietnamese textile and garment industry needs to diversify its raw material import sources if it wants to develop, a senior industry figure has said.

Nguyễn Thị Tuyết Mai, deputy general secretary of Việt Nam Textile and Garment Association (VITAS), said with exports of US$28.5 billion last year, Việt Nam is one of the five biggest exporters in the world.

But to achieve this, the country imports large volumes of feedstock including yarn, fabric and others, she said.

“Depending on one or two sources will limit manufacturers’ production capacity and development. Seeking new sources is necessary for the industry to lessen its dependence on traditional sources in ASEAN and China.”

Members of VITAS and the HCM City Association of Garments, Textiles, Embroidery and Knitting (AGTEK) agreed that India is one of the best alternative choices.

Phạm Xuân Hồng, chairman of AGTEK, said many Vietnamese garment companies have visited India to explore co-operation opportunities and returned impressed with the country’s garment and textile industry.

Many raw materials available in India fit their needs, he said.

“For a long time, Việt Nam has imported garment and textile raw materials from China. It is now time to upgrade technologies as well as have more raw material sources.”

Mai said establishing co-operation with India is a good idea.

Indian products have good quality and prices thanks to the free trade agreement signed between India and ASEAN, she said. Furthermore, garment and textile is among the products on which India would cut taxes in future, she said.

“This is an opportunity for Vietnamese to find a new raw material source.”

The Indian consulate in HCM City has promised strong support for Vietnamese companies seeking to tie up with their Indian counterparts.

The two governments have put garment and textile in the priority list for further development, it said.

It hoped a large Vietnamese delegation would attend the 2017 Textile India, a garment and textile exhibition in Ahmedabad, India, from June 30 to July 2, saying there they could find all the products they need from yarn and fibre and cotton.

The exhibition would also enable the Vietnamese companies to study the Indian garment and textile industry closely and identify new raw material sources, it added. — VNS