Garment expert tells the way
Fiji Times, Fiji
Monday, June 26, 2014
INCREASING productivity level in the garment industry will guarantee the Australian government’s commitment to open its market to Fiji, an Australian garment expert says.
Philip Levy, a special consultant to the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Industries made the comment as talks to change the rules of origin requirements in the South Pacific Regional Trade and Economic Co-operation (SPARTECA) is to start in August.
The SPARTECA review is expected to relax rules of origin requirements that denied the entry of Fiji textile, clothing and footwear products into Australia.
Mr Levy said increasing productivity was one of the conditions the Australian government want Fiji garment manufacturers to achieve in exchange for access to their lucrative markets.
He said the Australian government wanted to see Fiji’s garment industry help itself to become more internationally competitive without continually calling for further major concessions to the SPARTECA agreement.
“The Australian government states it is prepared to consider further concession to SPARTECA once they see evidence of the productivity increase,” Mr Levy said.
