Vietnam’s apparel sector celebrated

Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam has supplied more than four percent of the world’s total apparel production for consumption this year. 

Speaking at a ceremony to mark the 20th founding anniversary of the trade union of the textile and garment sector in Hanoi on September 14, Chairman of the union Nguyen Tung Van lauded the union’s contribution to the sector’s development.

He said annual average income of a worker in the sector hit more than 50 million VND (2,250 USD) and they are covered by social, health and unemployment insurance.

Director General of Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group Le Tien Truong said Vietnam is among the world’s five biggest garment and textile exporters. The sector contributes about 15 percent of the country’s total export value and creates more than 2.5 million jobs.

During the global economic crisis between 2008 and 2014, Vietnam was the only nation that maintained double digit growth in the sector, showing the sector’s competitiveness.

The sector has also attracted more foreign investment, up from 850 million USD in 1995 to 27.3 billion USD in 2015. 

Vietnam is among the world’s largest textile and garment exporters, behind only China, India, Bangladesh and the European Union. Garment and textile exports in the first half of this year reached 12.6 billion USD, a year on year increase of 4.72 percent and accounting for 41 percent of the sector’s target for 2016.-VNA