ISLAMABAD: Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) experts would extend all out expertise to facilitate garments sector, especially in the field of international marketing and product diversification.
Yesterday, a meeting was held between Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) team led by Takafumi Ueda, Senior Advisor JICA and Ministry of Textile Industry of Pakistan led by Amir Marwat, Secretary, Ministry of Textile Industry, to work out parameters for the project of “Skill Development and Market Diversification” (PSDMD) for garment industry.
Mr. Ijaz Khokhar chairman Pakistan Readymade Garments Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Mr. Sohail Afzal, vice chairman Pakistan Readymade Garments Technical Institute (PRGTTI), Mr. Adil Butt, chairman Pakistan Knitwear Training Institute (PKTI), Lahore and executive member of Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturer Association (PHMA) and Mr. Rehan Bharara, chairman Faisalabad Garments City Company, Faisalabad along with senior officers of the Ministry and JICA also attended the meeting. It was mutually agreed that The second component of the project would focus on capacity building of two EDF funded institutes, PRGTTI and PKTI managed by PRGMEA and PHMA respectively.
The JICA experts would impart training and provide necessary machinery for the institutes. The third component relates to training institute at Faisalabad Garment City. JICA would provide necessary machinery and training to improve skill in high value garment sector. On the occasion, Mr. Takafumi Ueda Sr. Advisor (Private Sector Development) JICA said that JICA last time coordinated with Textile Sector of Pakistan in 1993 by helping to upgrade National Textile University Faisalabad. The new project will open a new era of cooperation between JICA and Ministry of Textile Industry, as JICA will help to provide technical assistance in different fields of textiles sector.
The Secretary, Ministry of Textile Industry appreciated JICA for providing technical support to the textile industry. He said that this project would facilitate in achieving goals and objectives set forth in the Textiles Policy 2014-19. He said that the project would be beneficial in imparting higher skills in the area of garments along with market and product diversification of textile sector which are so crucial for enhancing country exports for earning precious foreign exchange.
