Strategies need to be framed soon to address the issue of high-quality textile industry manpower shortage in Vietnam. This was stated by Pham Xuan Hong, Chairman of the HCM City Association of Garment, Textile, Embroidery and Knitting (AGTEK) at an event organised in Ho Chi Minh City, recently.
The textile manufacturing industry in the country is a major ‘job creator’. Currently, the sector has around 2.5 million jobs. However, the shortage of ‘skilled’ workers, majorly in dyeing or designing, is hurting the country.
Hong further, emphasised on the need to have strategies for developing high-quality human resources ‘right from now’. The absence of much-needed skilled manpower has made local production of apparel materials undeveloped, which increases Vietnam’s dependency on imported materials.
Additionally, despite being a global hub for textile and apparel manufacturing, the Vietnamese fashion brands are yet to be recognised by global consumers. Steps needed to generate high added value like designing products and building brands are still limited in Vietnam, majorly highlighted at the event.
Out of 6,000+ textile-garment businesses in Vietnam, only around 30 per cent operate in textiles, including weaving, dyeing, printing and finishing fabric. Majority of them serve as manufacturers to foreign fashion brands. Just a few of them are able to create to their own products, from manufacturing fabric, designing to making apparels.
Markedly, export revenue of US $ 8 billion in the first three months of 2018, amounting to 13.3 per cent annual growth in the garment and textile industry of Vietnam. The impressive turnover recorded in the first quarter holds significance considering the industry has aimed to achieve US $ 35 billion in 2018.
Vietnam also generated US $ 3.59 billion from its fibre exports, marking a year-on-year increase of 22.7 in 2017.
Adding to this, the skilled workforce can help Vietnam expand its base and generate more in terms of textile and apparel export revnue.
