The government is set to boost the region textile and weaving industry with the drafting of a strategy aimed at modernising the sector, an official of a local textile association said.
Daw Myint Myint Than, vice chair of the Mandalay Textile and Weaving Manufacturers Association, said two meetings have been held with the Ministry of Commerce, Mandalay Region Chamber of Commerce and Industry and local textile and weaving manufacturers association.
Another meeting is scheduled in next month or in March to flesh out the strategy with the aim of coming out with a law and necessary policies for local textile and weaving businesses, she added.
“At present, local silk and cotton wear manufacturing is facing difficulties due to competitive market and importation of textiles from abroad,” Daw Myint Myint Than said.
“Imported textiles are made with printed patterns and copied designs and the price is cheap,” she added. “We can’t stop them so we need a protection. We have told officials that our local designs need to be protected by copyright law.”
Daw Myint Myint Than said aside from cheap imported textiles flooding the market, local weavers and textile manufacturers also face difficulties in accessing loans with low interest rates, shortage of raw materials and lack of modern production technology.
U Min Swe, secretary of Textile and Loom Association (Mandalay), said his group is supporting the move to come up with a comprehensive strategy to develop the industry.
“We’ll submit it to the parliament so we can establish a policy through a strategic plan,” he said. We will start the processes this year. Textile and Loom Association (Mandalay) has around 700 members. We’ll do our best on behalf of all the members.”
Source: www.mmtimes.com