Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers and Exporters Association (PHMA), Pakistan Towel Manufacturers Association (PTMA) and Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) are forming an alliance with textile exporters from Bangladesh, Cambodia, China, Myanmar and Vietnam through the Textile of Asian Region (STAR) Network. First of its kind, it’s an intra-Asian network of producer associations of textile and garment industry representing 60% of the global apparel export manufacturers.
Miran Ali, the network spokesperson explained that the reason for forming this alliance is to have a stronger voice in individual and collective discussions with brands and buyers on improving purchasing practices. The STAR network issued a statement, “Asian producer associations are joining forces for better purchasing practices in the textile and garment industry”.
Due to the biasness in power between brands and buyers on one side and textile and garment manufacturers on the other side.
The situation got even worse when Covid-19 pandemic hit because, during the lockdown, a surge of order cancellations was observed.
As US and UK brands and buyers backed out and cancelled their orders, the Asian manufactures had no way of getting out of the loss.
Therefore, to improve the circumstances, this intra Asian network was formed. this initiative was taken by the trade bodies with one goal in mind which is to refine the purchasing practices in terms of delivery terms and payment from manufacturers’ side as well as associations representing them.
The terms regarding the payment, delivery, planning and information exchange, and third party negotiations will be redefined as the association will arrange 5 working groups to work together till March 2021
