Apparel manufacturing set to restart at GIC in Korea

16 Sep '13

2 min read

Apparel and textile manufacturing is set to restart at the Gaeseong Industrial Complex (GIC), also called Kaesong industrial park, located in North Korea just north of the South Korean border, nearly five months after work was halted as tensions escalated between the two Koreas following a nuclear test made by North Korea in February this year.

The second meeting of the South-North Joint Committee for GIC, held last week, decided that the GIC companies will begin testing machines on September 16, 2013, and resume operations thereafter, according to a press release by the South Korean Ministry of Unification.

Through the meeting, both the countries established a systematic framework, which will help the GIC become a stable industrial complex that has international competitive power.

The GIC has 123 South Korean factories that together employ over 5,000 North Koreans. About 60 percent of these factories are engaged in manufacturing of fabric and apparel.

As part of negotiations, the Sub-Committee of the International Competitive Power has agreed to invite foreign enterprises stationed in South Korea and foreign businessmen to a briefing on GIC investment sometime in October, the release said.

Further, in order to compensate for the GIC companies’ financial losses, South and North Korea agreed to give the GIC companies the tax exemption benefit for the year 2013. The deadline for tax payment by the GIC companies for the year 2012 is now extended to the end of 2013.

With regards to the North Korean workers’ wages from April, 2013 to present, the General Bureau of Guidance for Special Zone Development of North Korea and the GIC Management Committee will further discuss and reach an agreement on the matter.

Launched in 2003, the GIC is largely financed by South Korea. In 2012, the complex produced US$ 470 million worth of products, and was the biggest contributor to inter-Korean trade. The industrial zone is the last functioning inter-Korean joint project and is a major source of revenue for North Korea.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

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