Challenge for Textile Sector of Argentina Is to Increase Production at a Rate of 8% Annum

The challenge for the textile sector of Argentina is to increase production at a rate of 8 percent per annum, while generating jobs, said Argentine Minister of Industry Debora Giorgi after a meeting between textile industry representatives and Government officials at the Casa Rosada (the office of Argentine President, also known as House of the Government.

The Minister of Industry said the Government needs to provide the textile sector with tools such as funding through soft loans, bicentennial credits and also establish an inter-ministerial review unit for export duties and refunds in each link, in order to encourage exports and value-addition in the textile sector of the country, an official press release states.

The Minister stressed on the importance of the textile sector of the country which employs around 120,000 workers, and explained that the Government has to defend the industry from unfair competition through creating a domestic market for the sector as well as analyzing and improving the administration of trade.

The Government is fully committed towards the goal of increasing production rate of the sector to 8 percent per annum, and generating around 25,000 new jobs within the next two years, she added.

Ms. Giorgi said the meeting was a part of the initiative of Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, of interacting with representatives of production centers and analyzing their value chains, understanding their problems and target goal-oriented production, investments, along with generating jobs, increasing competitiveness and maintaining affordable prices.

The meeting saw participation from Governor of Argentine province Chaco Jorge Capitanich, Commerce Secretary Augusto Costa, as well as other Government officials. Textile industry representatives included director of Foundation of Weaving (PRO KNIT) Marco Meloni, Argentina Chamber of Industrial Clothing president Larumbe Oscar Perez, general manager of the Argentina Federation of Textile Industries Marcelo Arabolaza and more.