Sri Lanka’s Institute for Textile and Apparel plans to expand to the South Asian market soon
Sri Lanka’s Minister for Industry and Commerce has stated that Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel (SLITA), which has been in operation for three decades, is no planning on expanding to other markets in the South Asian region.
“I am pleased to inform that Sri Lanka Institute of Textile and Apparel (SLITA) under the Ministry of Industry and Commerce is planning to expand,” Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen has said.
Bathiudeen has made this observation while addressing the apparel industry graduation ceremony recently.
Joining the session were industry leaders like the Chairman of Joint Apparel Associations Forum (JAAF) Sharad Amalean and JAAF Secretary General Tuly Cooray, Ministry of Industry and Commerce’ Additional Secretary Textile Development M.A. Thajudeen, as well as the High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Sri Lanka Riaz Hamidullah.
“With today’s passing out of another 500 diploma holders the grand total of SLITA course participants stands at 21,600,” the Minister has said.
He has added: “As the only government institution engaged in training for apparel and leather sectors SLITA showed several important achievements. In 2017 SLITA performed almost 50000 testings for the first time, trained 5400 persons. Today I am also pleased to inform that SLITA has important plans of expansion. SLITA is planning to expand its services to South Asian region and preparing to establish links and collaborations with prestigious textile and apparel institutions in the region. SLITA is also planning to acquire degree awarding status to award apparel degrees.”
Bathiudeen has further said, “Our apparel exports that picked up in May this year strengthened further in June. The total exports in January-June this year was at US$ 2.4 billion, up by 5% compared to same period in 2017. We exported US$ 1 billion worth apparels to EU, another US$ 1 billion to US and US$ 321 million to the rest of the world. Exports to EU grew by 7.76% and to US by 3.77%. For us to sustain this success rate over the longer period, we need to focus on gaining more advantages, in addition to our low labour costs. “
OSL take:
The expansion of SLITA to other markets in the South Asian region is in fact in line with the Sri Lankan government’s policy of making Sri Lanka a total solutions hub in the Indian Ocean region. Sri Lanka’s apparel sector has gained massive benefits due to the EU’s GSP Plus facility and the US GSP facility. Given the continuous growth in the country’s garment sector, foreign investors/businesses could explore business opportunities in Sri Lanka’s apparel industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/17082018/Z_4 |