Export-oriented apparel production—long a key industry in South Asia—displays characteristics of good jobs for development. With relatively low skill requirements, apparel manufacturing presents the poor with job opportunities. It also has a unique ability to attract female workers, with women's share of total apparel employment being much higher than women's share in other industries in nearly every country in the region, it said.
'Stitches to Riches', a book brought out by the World Bank offers specific policy recommendations for stakeholders to better leverage the apparel manufacturing sector's potential in South Asia.
The focus is on identifying key bottlenecks and areas for improvement in the South Asian countries compared with those of their closest competitors in#
Already Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka have made substantial investments in world apparel trade. In 2012, for example apparel represented 83 per cent of Bangladeshi exports and 45 per cent of Sri Lankan exports. The share of female employment in apparel in South Asia is higher than in other manufacturing industries, ranging from 5 per cent in Pakistan to 71 per cent in Sri Lanka.
According to the book, China dominates global apparel trade but that may change in the years ahead. In addition, rising prices in China are encouraging investors to seek out apparel firms in countries like Cambodia and Vietnam. The potential decrease in Chinese exports presents a huge opportunity for South Asian countries.
It says Southeast Asian countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, and Vietnam) are outperforming South Asian (SAR) countries (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) in terms of overall apparel export performance, product diversity, and non-cost related factors important to global buyers.
According to the book, SAR countries exhibit significant employment generation potential for both males and females. For example, Bangladesh and Pakistan have the greatest potential to increase jobs (in percentage terms) for exports to the US markets, and Sri Lanka is the big winner with respect to the EU markets. (SH)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India
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