HCM CITY - TUV SUD, an international service provider in testing, inspection, audit and certification yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the HCM City Association of Garment Textile Embroidery and Knitting (AGTEK) to help its members access global markets.

Under the MOU, the two sides will co-organise quality and safety workshops and awareness programmes related to the textile and garment industry, according to Sathish Kumar Somuraj, general director of TUV SUD Vietnam.
The in-house training sessions would aim to provide local manufacturers an updated and more in-depth understanding of stringent international quality and safety standards, he said.

Phạm Xuân Hồng, AGTEK chairman, said Việt Nam has improved its business opportunities by signing free trade agreements with some key global players like the EU, US, Japan, Korea, and ASEAN, he said.

While these agreements would bring global market access to Vietnamese businesses, it also means that Vietnamese manufacturers have to comply with more stringent quality and safety regulations, he said.

"International government safety and quality regulations on textile and garment products are changing constantly, especially in today’s free trade business landscape.

“Global buyers, especially those in Europe and the US, are increasingly demanding with respect to the kind and quality of products they want."

Somuraj said quality and safety control are essential for companies in Việt Nam, especially those looking to take their products to international markets.

The MOU also includes a special promotion for the association’s members, who are mainly small and medium-sized enterprises for whom cost is a concern, he said.

The agreement is expected to immensely benefit member companies and take their business to the next level, he added. - VNS