1. Consultation, policy advocacy and efforts to propose reform and resolve difficulties for enterprises:
2016 has witnessed many proposals to reform and resolve difficulties for enterprises given VITAS’ concerns and accompanying textile companies to gather key proposals to submit to Prime Minister and relevant agencies and departments to initiate appropriate amendments and supplements, create healthy and enabling business environment priotizing the private sector. Consultation activities were systematically organized under written comments, feedbacks, call, direct exchange or seminar, group/community dialogues, cooperating with other Associations. Below is the list of key proposals by VITAS on obstacles which should be promptly resolved for enterprises last year, most of which have been resolved or noted for resolution by Ministries and sectors.
- Proposal on minimum wage policy.
- Proposal on technical inspection, notably the proposal to abolish inspections on formaldehyde aromatic amines derived from azo colorants in textiles.
- Proposal on foreign shipping providers’ too high CIC – CIS surcharges.
- Proposal on inappropriateness of import permit on printing equipment in textiles.
- Proposal on supplementing washing, printing and embroidery into list of supporting industries.
- Proposal on converting calculation unit of cotton from quantity to length.
- Proposal on weighing container before exporting.
- Comments on Draft Decree on import and export schedule.
- Proposal on regulations on manufacturing, processing military uniform exporting to foreign armed forces.
- Proposal on adjusting planning on textiles development.
- Proposal on lending in foreign currencies to borrowers who are permanent residents.
In 2016, VITAS proactively engaged in activities of VTFA, National Salary Committee, Consultation Committee on administrative reform, etc., participated and presented at many conferences, seminars, international and domestic forum to help faciliate business, import and export conditions, environment for textiles companies.
2. Linkages between VITAS and other Associations
In 2016, VITAS initiated the establishment of linkages among such Associations as VITAS, LEFASO, VCOSA, VASEP, JBAV, VLA, VPSF, Hanoi SME, etc. The joint Association has organized multiple meetings to exchange information, experience, notably cooperated in policy advocacy to facilitate healthy and enabling business environment for enterprises’ manufacturing and business. Specifically, those Associations have cooperated and succeeded in proposing the minimum wage increase in 2017, obstacles arising from administrative and customs procedures, recommendations on fees, taxes, technical inspection, proposals on Circular no. 24/2015/TT-NHNN, etc. and consensus on proposal to Prime Minister to request Haiphong city to cancel collecting seaport facilities charges.
3. International cooperation activities:
Hosting International seminar “Improving the supply chain capacities of Asean Textile Industry toward sustainable development” in Hanoi
From 31st – 2nd November 2016, International seminar “Improving the supply chain capacities of Asean Textile Industry toward sustainable development”was organized in Hanoi, hosted by VITAS and KITECH (Korea Institute of Industrial Technology), sponsored by AKEC Fund. The Seminar was participated by the Korea and AFTEX members countries including Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam. This offered the opportunity for domestic and regional textiles companies to meet and sharing exchange experience with Korea experts to discuss technical issues to strengthen the supply chain in the block.
VITAS and KITECH (Korea Institute of Industrial Technology) signed MOU: On 07 December 2016, in Seoul, Korea, the 7th meeting session of Korean – Vietnam Joint Commission on cooperation in nuclear power, industry and trade between the two countries was held. Representatives of VITAS and KITECH participated into sub-commission on cooperation in industrial techniques to discuss the final contents of textiles within the mutual cooperation program. KITECH Chairman – Mr. Lee Youngsoo and VITAS General Secretary Truong Van Cam signed the MOU on behalf of respective institutes/organizations. The MOU aims to establish a cooperation framework in the future covering researching textiles, enhancing manufacturing capacities and marketing activities as well as expanding export market.
4. Successfully organize many domestic and abroad trade promotion programs
In 2016, VITAS organized many trade promotion programs with domestic and abroad textiles companies and organizations to expand the market, seek new customers as well as update fashion trend and find new sourcing. VITAS enabled Vietnam Textiles Companies Delegation to participate the Magic Show Fair in Las Vegas, combined with surveying the U.S textiles market; participated Apparel Sourcing Fair in Paris, France. The coordination for the Vietnam Delegation’s participating those fairs helped promote the images of Vietnam textiles, promote and introduce made in Vietnam products, sustained relationship with existing customers, created new chances to exchange and establish relationships with new customers, understand new consumption and fashion trends.
Saigontex Exhibition in April 2016 and Hanoitex Exhibition in November 2016: VITAS along with Vinatex, Exhibition Hong Kong JSC, VCCI, Agtek cooperated to organize 2016 Exhibition on textiles equipment and materials in HCMC (Saigontex) in April 2016 and in Hanoi (Hanoitex) in November 2016. At both exhibitions, the participating companies exhibited and introduced many new products and technologies, which was highly apreciated by Vietnam enterprises.
Printing equipment exhibition in HCMC: VITAS cooperated with Vietfair and Hong Kong Group i.e. Allainfo Media Group to organize printing equipment exhibition in HCMC in December 2016. To enhance trade promotion activities, in 2016, VITAS held a number of seminars and dialogues, etc. on such themes of supply chain, rules of origin, trade defense, comprehensive corporate governance solutions, social responsibilities and inspection on exports, printing and embroidery technologies in textiles, etc.
5. Training and seminar activities were emphasized and implemented in 2016:
Given the support of NHO, VITAS and VCCI established Consulting Committee on improving textiles training quality. The participants included VITAS Office, VCCI Office, Representatives from textiles and fashion companies, vocational schools with textiles training courses. In 2016, the Consulting Committee organized seminars on such themes as working method of the Committee, specific solutions to improve vocational training quality and quality on staff training. Overall speaking, the Committee’s activities were considered as appropriate and necessary during the current period by enterprises and vocational schools.
In 2016, VITAS cooperated with domestic and abroad Association, research institutes, companies, etc. to organize training courses for staff from companies, including Waste water treatment and Dying Techniques Course (JTIA – Japan), labeling country of origin (STC – Hongkong), delegating staff to training courses in Korea (Kitech/KVA), etc.; Seminar on developing human resources in textiles; facilitating enterprises’ joining many training courses held by ministries, sectors under relevant topics. Those aforementioned activities contributed to improving training activities and quality of human resources of textiles companies.
6. Many new member enterprises joined VITAS
In 2016, the number of new members reached its peak within recent years. As at the end of 2016, 35 enterprises obtained new membership, including 15 ones in the South and 17 ones in the North. The membership increased by 8% yoy.
7. Implementation of Scheme on religious costumes of Buddhist Sangha of Vietnam (BSV):
At the begining of 2016, VITAS hosted along with such companies as Viet Thang, May 10, Phong Dong, Dong Xuan Knitwear, Vinh Phu Textile JSC, Nguyen Dung, etc. and some units under Lefaso to participated in the scheme on religious costumes of BSV. Within recent years, representatives of VITAS, Lefaso, Fadin and other units along with BSV Central Committee, experts joined a plethora of fieldwork, studies and surveys at pagodas, discussion and dialogues on religious costumes; putting forth proposals on colors and identities of Buddhism costumes. Since the end of 2016 and in 2017, the units shall roll out the Scheme at designing and manufacturing stages. Especially, VITAS Chairman assigned those units to accelerate the progress to meet the National Buddhist Congress in November 2017.
8. Successfully organize General Meeting 2016
On 17 December 2016, in Nha Trang city, VITAS hosted General Meeting 2016 on business performance of Vietnam textile and apparel industry in 2016, put forth orientation, missions and solutions for 2017. In 2016, opportunities came handy with difficulties and challenges against the Vietnam textile and apparel industry, also key milestones were marked in VITAS’ activities. In 2016, VITAS collected many key proposals to submit to Prime Minister as well as relevant Ministries and sectors to appropriately amend and supplement, create health and enabling business environment for textiles enterprises.
During General Meeting, representatives reached consensus on perspectives that in 2016 the Association put lots of efforts in developing textiles development programs, proactively participating into activities of regional and international textiles organizations, successfully organizing AFTEX – ASEAN supply chain seminar. Especially, cooperation has been effectively extended among Ministries, sectors, domestic and abroad organizations in calling for foreign investment into textiles in Vietnam, promoting export market opening and preventing international trade barriers, implementing trade promotion programs, building images of Vietnam fashion, proactively contributing into building Vietnam textiles brand in the international market.
Concluding the General Meeting, VITAS Chairman – Mr. Vu Duc Giang remarked on the Associaiton’s continuing proposing to state agencies to propose measures on reforming and resolving difficulties for enterprises; adjusting the scope of sub-associaiton; establishing experts teams to study the linkage between FDI companies and domestic ones, experts on laws and trade agreements, developing anti-dumping barriers on imports into Vietnam; promoting VITAS’ becoming member of Vietnam Fatherland’s Front. Mr. Giang recommended enterprises to emphasize staff training on laws, market capacities, linguistic abilities, contribution of efforts, intellectuality, time and costs as the key factors to the success of the Association as well as each enterprise.
