Textile industry expected to grow by 3% this year

BANGKOK, Dec 22 (TNA) – The garment and textile industry is growing by 3% this year and will expand at the pace of 5-6% next year due to the FIFA World Cup next year and innovations, according to the Thailand Textile Institute. Chanchai Sirikasemlert, executive director of the institute, said the Thai garment and textile industry grew by 3% with its value estimated at 600 billion baht. The industry started to pick up with China and Vietnam being its major markets, he said. He projected that the industry would grow by 5-6% next year due to World Cup-related orders and innovation by manufacturers. Ms Nisakorn Jungjaroentham, deputy permanent secretary for industry and chairperson of the Thailand Textile Institute, said the institute provided its Soft Opening Textile Transformation Service to add values to Thai garments and textile and meet the demand of consumers. The service makes innovations available for small and medium-scaled entrepreneurs, startups and general businesspeople to apply to improve their businesses. They include innovations on environmentally friendly textile, dyes and fibre as well as the cloth that was anti-mosquito, antibacterial, fire-resist and UV protective, Ms Nisakorn said. (TNA)