Garment industry jobs saved
By mandeep singh
Gulf Daily News, Bahrain
ABOUT 1,500 Bahraini women in the garment and textile sector will be given a fresh lease of life following the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the US on Tuesday, an industry spokesman said yesterday.
Only six garment factories now survive in Bahrain, down from the 22 two years ago, due to international competition.
There were 11,000 people being employed in the sector, which went down to 4,000.
“This is very good news, particularly for those who deal in fabrics,” said Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry Readymade Garments and Textiles Committee vice-chairman Harinder Singh Lamba.
“We are now sure that the existing six factories dealing in fabrics and two others dealing in textiles have a very good chance of not only surviving but also doing very well with regard to international competition.”
Mr Lamba said the excellent facilities in Bahrain, which include top class port infrastructure and its central location, would prove to be catalysts for the industry.
“Many of Bahrain’s competitors, including India and countries in the Far East, do not have the advantages that we do, since we are closer to the major international consumers and export markets.”
However, Mr Lamba said, the two textile factories would have to do some value addition in their products so that they remain competitive.
“For the garment manufacturers, they can import 35 million square meters of textile fabric from outside Bahrain and turn that into garments for export, while the textile manufactures will have to do something more to export the raw fabric.”
He said this includes getting into joint ventures either with companies outside Bahrain or within the country.
Mr Lamba said the competitive spirit among the Bahrain industry would ensure there are no more job or other losses.
“The industry is now on an upswing and the FTA means there is no looking back,” he said.
