Thursday, March 28, 2024 | Ramadan 17, 1445 H
broken clouds
weather
OMAN
23°C / 23°C
EDITOR IN CHIEF- ABDULLAH BIN SALIM AL SHUEILI

‘Made in Oman’ garments industry facing challenges

1100899
1100899
minus
plus

Textile production and export of garments in the country may not be so developed but rest assured, it has a great potential to be one of the leading national income generator, employment creator and above all, can help mark the nation in the textile map of the world, according to fabric experts.


Although the various factors of production, land, labour capital and organisation can very well be made favourable to the country along with the logistical cutting edge due to its strategic positioning, this sector has been overlooked at and remain unattended.


“This is the right time to develop textile sector in the country which is hitherto undeveloped.


“It can be done under the supervision of the government and can prove to be one of the major non-oil exports of the Sultanate”, says Muhammed Irfan, General Manager, Al Naseem Garments.


He has identified some reasons behind this and feels that if all the factors are met with, time will only be the limit in taking the ‘Made in Oman’ garments to international arena.


“We are blessed with year-long days of sunlight and a laudable track of power generation and uninterrupted distribution across the country while 24X7 energy is available in Oman. Not only that, the geographic positioning, proximity to the most strategic ports, Sohar Port and Duqm Port and we need to further make use of all these facilities to salvage the textile sector”,


Irfan sees a long, fruitful future to this sector as the future generations are expected to use the Sohar port for future activities and teaching the youth the textile technology will just be a part of the higher education curricula.


“We have a sound young population who can learn fast and converge with the rest of the world.


“If we develop the textile industry here, we can train them in automatic machines, latest robotic machines and other technologies of garment manufacturing helping the nation mark its presence in the global textile map”, Irfan sounded confident.


In 2006, there were about 25 garment factories in and around the capital city but today this number has shrunk to ‘a few’, and if the situation continues, this number will further shrink, fear industry experts.


“There were some 25 textile manufacturers and suppliers in the country a decade ago but today, I can count the number with my fingers”, Sanjeeva Rashant, Manager, Azaiba Cloth Factory


According to Mohammed, yet another crucial factor which will help exporting ‘Made in Oman’ garments, is the healthy relations that the country has been maintaining with the rest of the world.


“Also, the relationship of Oman with other countries is of paramount importance and this will enable us to enter other countries and supply the locally produced textile products and services”.


He further noticed that under the FTA with the US, there’s no garment manufacturing or trading between these two countries and if we can have the consent, this will be a great support to the sector.


“Under FTA with the US, there is a clause for yarn and fabric movement and we have to discuss with the counterpart and start moving the same here. We can even produce cotton, yarn spinning mills, and from that we can initiate automatic spinning industry. We can also engage some technology with which the cost of production can be reduced. We have all the potential to manufacture and supply to European countries and other customers across the world.”


The present clause is that any yarn or fabric bought from another country cannot be exported to the US but if Oman can organise for a talk on this, and secure duty concession under FTA, Omani-made products can be exported to the US which will be a milestone in the garment manufacturing and exporting.


The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) has said that the Ministry is supporting the textile sector and more young Omanis need to come forward with projects that can support the society and the nation in general.


“We are supporting the garment manufacturing sector by giving them room to grow and offering opportunities locally as well as internationally”, says Mohsin bin Khamis al Balushi, Adviser at the MoCI.


“We are investing in taking them abroad to display and explore newer markets by organising networking opportunities, B2B, and other business opportunities and one such example is the Expo 2020 in Dubai where nearly 1,000 SME’s from Oman will take part”, he added.


Fabric and garments experts also opined that Oman need to realise that a developed textile sector is vital for the country and with latest technology and equipment, machinery and manpower, we can be a top producer and supplier of textiles in here.


“Let alone the local garments such as dishdasha, abaya and jallabiya, Seamless garments such as socks, gloves and the like can very well be produced here and sent to the European countries.”


Kabeer Yousuf


SHARE ARTICLE
arrow up
home icon