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| Tuesday, 27 April 2004 |
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ECCSL workshops for SMEs in apparel sector by Sarath Malalasekera The European Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (ECCSL) will conduct two half-day workshops for the SMEs in the Apparel sector on April 28, at the Colombo Plaza. The workshops are aimed at increasing productivity and improving sales and marketing to Europe. The seminars organised by the ECCSL, come at a time when the global apparel industry would soon face many challenges with the phasing out of the Multi-Fibre Agreement at the end of 2004. The seminars would be conducted by UK leading Apparel expert Peter Wilson, said Sujeevan Perera, General Manager, ECCSL. Wilson has experience in implementing practical solutions to improve productivity and value addition, including design and installation of appropriate management and quality control systems. He is responsible for the development of strategies for Textile and Clothing sectors in Sri Lanka, Egypt, Nepal and Bangladesh. The removal of the quota system will enable buyers to procure requirements from the more efficient and organised producers, posing a threat to those competing solely on price. This scenario will pose an opportunity for manufacturers who have been competing on quality, supplying garments to the higher market segments to enhance their export value, the General Manager said. The first workshop titled "Productivity Improvement and Cost Reduction for Manufacturers," will include techniques on increasing productivity and reducing costs. The areas to be covered will include Lead Time Reduction and Increasing Value-adding Time, Quick Set up and Changeover Reduction, Targets and Measures, Measuring Tools and Techniques and "How To" Action Planning. The second workshop titled "Target Europe," is a seminar and workshop on how to target the European Union for increased sales and potential joint ventures. The areas to be covered will include - the Market Size in the EU, sales and distribution within the EU, Legislation and trading with the EU, How to approach the buyers, How to present products and how to develop a sales and marketing plan. With the loss of protection hitherto provided by the Multi-Fibre Agreement, manufacturers who cannot identify and export market opportunities with products in market demand will lose market share to the more organised competitors, thereby leading to an inevitable consolidation of the global apparel industry. This is also expected to occur at micro level in Sri Lanka. |
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