Textile & garments industry reports pleasing growth in 2006

07 May '07

3 min read

The improving economic situation had a positive impact on the Swiss Textile and Garments industry last year. Branch sales rose by 4.6 % to 4.13 billion francs. Exports were also 4.9 % higher at 4.20 billion francs. 72 % of textile products and 52 % of garments go to the EU Member States. The recipe for success of the Swiss companies includes many creative and innovative products.

The Federation itself supports the branch with new training courses and the launch of swiss+cotton, the quality seal for the finest Swiss cotton products. On the other hand, trends in Swiss external economic and energy policy continue to give grounds for concern. The strategy of the Swiss Textile and Garments branch has paid dividends.

The companies continue to bank on their professional know-how, innovation and ability to detect trends and always remain a decisive step ahead of the competition with special products. By doing so, they are able to defy the high pressure on prices and margins and growing competition from the low wage countries. For 2007, the Federation is again expecting a positive trend, although overall economic growth is likely to prove weaker.

More jobs worldwide:
By the third quarter of 2006, the number of persons employed in Switzerland fell slightly by 1.2 % to 16,100 persons. By the end of the year, the improving economic situation also began to be reflected in the number of jobs with the creation of a further 200 new posts.

But the Swiss Textile and Garments industry also employs persons abroad. In the year 2005, some 94,300 persons were working outside Switzerland, 6.5 % more than in 2004. Overall, more than 110,000 persons are employed both at home and abroad for Swiss textile and garments companies, roughly equivalent to the population of Lausanne, the fifth largest Swiss city.

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