In a major development, Japan has agreed to support Pakistan in boosting the value added textile sector exports and will provide assistance for product diversification, international marketing and for enhancing capacity building of garment institutes.
An official source said the Japanese offer of support through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will be a major initiative to introduce international best practices and product diversification in the sector. In the early 1990’s Japan provided a similar assistance, which yielded a very positive impact on the quality and productivity of the textile sector.
Pakistani and Japanese officials discussed further collaborating in the textile sector at a meeting held at the ministry of textile industry between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) team.
Japanese side was led by Takafumi Ueda, Sr Advisor JICA and Pakistani side was led by Amir Marwat, Secretary Ministry of Textile Industry. Both the sides discussed parameters for the project of “skill development and market diversification” for garment industry.
The meeting was also attended by Ijaz Khokhar, Chairman Pakistan Readymade Garments Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Sohail Afzal, Vice Chairman Pakistan Readymade Garments Technical Institute (PRGTTI), Adil Butt, Chairman Pakistan Knitwear Training Institute (PKTI), Lahore, and executive member of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturer Association (PHMA) and Rehan Bharara, Chairman Faisalabad Garments City Company, Faisalabad.
It was mutually agreed that JICA experts would facilitate garment sector specially SME in the field of international marketing practices along with compliance requirement, marketing and product diversification. The second component of the project would focus on capacity building of two EDF funded institutes, PRGTTI and PKTI managed by PRGMEA and PHMA respectively. The JICA experts would impart training and provide necessary machinery for the institutes. The third component relates to training institute at Faisalabad Garment City. The JICA would provide necessary machinery and training to improve skill in high value garment sector.
Takafumi Ueda Sr Advisor Private Sector Development JICA said the Japanese organization coordinated with textile sector in 1993 and helped upgrade National Textile University Faisalabad. The new project will open a new era of cooperation between the two countries. The JICA will provide technical assistance in different fields of textiles sector. The secretary textiles appreciated the JICA for providing technical support and said that the project would facilitate in achieving goals and objectives set forth in the Textiles Policy 2014-19.