Local garment and textile businesses felt excited in the first two months of 2013 as orders from abroad came in droves.

Experts predicted that the garment and textile sector will maintain its growth rate of 12-15 percent to pocket around 19.3 billion USD in export turnover this year.

For the goal, the sector needs a large workforce, senior advisor to the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS) Le Quoc An said, suggesting the employment of additional 200,000 workers.

In 2012, it kept topping the country’s export list, raking in 17.2 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 8.5 percent.

The sector aims to continue being the country’s spearhead hard currency earner in at least 10 years.-VNA