In order to improve the competitiveness of the nation’s leather, footwear, textile, and apparel industries and to fortify the local supply chain, the Vietnam Leather, Footwear, and Handbag Association (LEFASO) has suggested creating an innovation, research and development, and trading centre for fashion materials in Vietnam.
Nguyễn Thị Thanh Xuân, the Secretary General and Vice Chairwoman of LEFASO, stated at a Government meeting that outsourcing has resulted in the leather and footwear industry’s continued heavy reliance on imported materials. Building a local raw material supply is essential to long-term growth and drawing in new orders, she emphasised.
LEFASO responded by proposing the construction of a 40-hectare facility devoted to innovation and the provision of materials for the fashion industry in collaboration with the Việt Nam Textile and Apparel Association and the Việt Nam Timber and Forest Products Association. Xuân underlined that in order to make the centre a reality, innovative policies and robust Government assistance are required.
In order to support the project’s development, she said she hoped Vietnamese diplomatic missions and trade offices overseas could exchange best practices and global experiences.
The proposed centre seeks to streamline supply chains, encourage design and business model innovation, and diversify sources of materials. In addition to meeting domestic demand, it might also provide materials to Bangladesh, Indonesia, and Cambodia, among other nations in the region.
In order to promote cross-sector engagement and create a more independent fashion supply chain in Vietnam, Xuân also urged the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other pertinent organisations to create a complete policy framework.
