Seminar & Events
International Symposium
Asia's Clothing Industry at a Crossroads amid Intensified Global Competition
The clothing industry is labor-intensive, requires low initial investments and utilizes standardized technology. Such an industrial disposition is suitable for a developing economy with abundant labor, scarce capital and unavailability of high technology. This industry is also expected as a pro-poor industry, which can provide job opportunities even to the uneducated and unskilled poor in developing economies.
On the other hand, the clothing industry is a foot-loose one, which moves from one country to another, seeking for low-wage labor force and the import quota of advanced countries. With the abolishment of the Multi-Fiber Agreement (MFA) at the beginning of 2005, the industry has entered into the full-fledged global competition and the production bases started to move quickly and globally. Some developing countries that used to be clothes producers, big or small, are now facing challenges and opportunities in the global market.
The Institute of Developing Economies, JETRO, has long studied the clothing industry in Asia. In particular, the four study groups focused on the related-issues. Based on the results of these study groups, an international symposium will be held to review the present conditions of the clothing industry in developing economies after the MFA. Inviting research fellows and business persons from six Asian countries, the symposium intensively discusses the challenges and opportunities that the clothing industry of each country faces in the post-MFA age.
Date&time:
March 13, 2007, (Thursday) 11:20-16:00 (Open 11:00)
Venue:
International Conference Hall, Japan Foundation
(20th floor, Akasaka Ark Mori Bldg. Akasaka 1-12-32, Minatoku)
Speaker：
Masahisa Fujita, President of IDE-JETRO
Akio Mera, Chairman & CEO, Japan Textiles Export Organization
Tatsufumi Yamagata, Development Studies, Center, IDE-JETRO
Languages:
Simultaneous interpretation of Japanese & English is available.Participation fee:
Admission is FreeContact:
International Exchange Division, IDE-JETRO2-2-2 Wakaba, Mihama-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 261-8545 TEL: 043-299-9544 FAX: 043-299-9726 E-mail：sympo-sc 
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Program:
11:20
Opening addressMasahisa Fujita, President of IDE-JETRO
11:25-12:05
SESSION 1
The Prospects of Development of the Garment Industry in Developing Countries and its Impacts on JapanAkio Mera, Chairman & CEO, Japan Textiles Export Organization
Tatsufumi Yamagata, Development Studies, Center, IDE-JETRO
12:10-13:10
SESSION 2
The Garment Industry in Asia amidst Global Competition ---- China, Vietnam and MyanmarChaired by Toshihiro Kudo, Inter-disciplinary Center, IDE-JETRO
Speakers:
China: Gu Qingliang, Professor, Business School, Dong Hua University,
Deputy Director of the Institute of Textile Economics
Vietnam: Cu Chi Loi, Vice Director, Vietnam Institute of Economics, Vietnam Academy of Social Science
Myanmar: Myint Soe, Chairman, Myanmar Garment Manufacturers' Association
Vietnam: Cu Chi Loi, Vice Director, Vietnam Institute of Economics, Vietnam Academy of Social Science
Myanmar: Myint Soe, Chairman, Myanmar Garment Manufacturers' Association
13:10-13:50
- Lunch -13:50-14:30
SESSION 3
Consequences of the Global Competition to Garment Workers ---- Bangladesh and CambodiaChaired by Mayumi Murayama, Area Studies Center, IDE-JETRO
Speakers:
Bangladesh: Mashuda Khatun Shefali, Executive Director, Nari Uddug Kendra
(Centre for Women's Initiatives)
Cambodia: Hach Sok, Founding President and Research Director, Economic Institute of Cambodia (EIC)
Cambodia: Hach Sok, Founding President and Research Director, Economic Institute of Cambodia (EIC)
14:30-14:40
- Coffee Break -14:40-15:50
Q & A, DiscussionChaired by Tatsufumi Yamagata, Development Studies, Center, IDE-JETRO
15:50
Closing Address