Indonesia’s garment producers told to improve productivity, quality
Jakarta Post, Indonesia
JAKARTA (JP):Indonesia’s garment producers have to improve productivity,service and, most importantly, quality, if they want win a bigger share of the world market, particularly in the United States, a consultant suggests.
“Price is no longer a major issue in the world garment market, but product quality is,” Senada global marketing consultant Andreas Saldias Pozo told a media conference Thursday.
Senada recently conducted a two-week survey, which was financed by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), on the prospects for Indonesian garment exports in the U.S. after the removal of the export quota for Chinese garments at the end of December 2014.
The study found that Indonesian manufacturers hadthe potential to grow sales in the U.S. market, but lacked efficiency.
Pozo said the survey showed that only half of Indonesia’s garment producers had an efficiency rating of between 80 and 85 percent.
Pozo suggested that local garment manufacturers improve their competitiveness through improving workers’ skills and reequipping.
The government has allocated Rp 255 billion (US$246 million)in subsidies and low-interest loans this year to help textile producers purchase new machinery.
