Garment exports grow higher than expected in first quarter

Vietnam’s exports of garments and textiles in the past three months reached US$2.25 billion, up 18 percent compared to the same period last year, and much higher than expected.

The figures were released by the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, which attributed the high growth to a recovery in the global economy.

The association’s chairman Le Quoc An said that he hoped the industry would meet this year’s export target of US$10.5 billion, 12 percent more than last year, as many garment exporters have received large orders up to the third quarter, even to the end of the year.

In order to meet this target, An said, exporters have applied advanced technologies to increase production, reduce production costs and raise productivity and competitiveness.

However, he said, the association and its members must work together to address and effectively deal with the shortage of workers.

Despite the global economic slowdown, garment and textiles, one of the country’s major export earners, brought in US$9 billion last year.

VOVNews

Tags: Vietnam Garment, Vietnam garment exports