Japan promises support for Pakistan's garment industry

The outcome of a recent meeting between the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) and the Pakistani textile ministry was the “Skill Development and Market Diversification” (PSDMD) project for the Pakistani garment industry.

As the title suggests, the approach will be twofold: JICA experts will support especially small and medium Pakistani garment enterprises in terms of international marketing practices as well as compliance requirements, marketing and product diversification.

In addition, the project will focus on capacity building in terms of training and machinery of the two Export Development Fund (EDF) institutes, namely the Pakistan Readymade Garment Technical Training Institute (PRGTTI), managed by the PRGMEA, the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Association, and the Pakistan Knitwear Training Institute (PKTI), managed by the Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturing Association (PHMA).

“JICA previously coordinated with the textile sector of Pakistan in 1993 by helping upgrade the National Textile University Faisalabad. The new project would open a new era of cooperation between JICA and the ministry of textile industry, as JICA would provide technical assistance in different fields of the textiles sector,” commented JICA senior advisor Takafumi Ueda.

Amir Sarwat, the textile ministry’s secretary who led the delegation, highlighted Pakistan's advantage as the world's fourth largest cotton producer and the potential to further increase production. He praised the JICA for providing technical support to Pakistan's garment and textile industry and that the PSDMD would help in achieving the goals and objectives set forth in the Textiles Policy 2014-19.

“The project would be beneficial in imparting higher skills in the area of garments along with market and product diversification of the textile sector which are crucial for enhancing country exports for earning precious foreign exchange,” Sarwat said.