Local footwear makers target 50% domestic market share By Thu Nguyet - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC -Vietnam's footwear industry has set a high target of occupying a domestic market share of 50% this year compared to the current 30%, which will require footwear makers to painstakingly implement their plans, an official told the Daily on Tuesday. Kiet said foreign competitors are holding a dominant share of 70% on the local footwear market. This will not be easy, he said, explaining that local brands are less known in the country as over two-thirds of the total 500 Vietnamese enterprises in the industry are operating as sub-contractors for well-known foreign brands such as Nike, Adidas and Converse. As such, local footwear makers are now heavily dependent on foreign partners' technologies and designs. "The success in building trademarks depends on individual Vietnamese enterprises. The association will help by encouraging them to cooperate with one another in hiring foreign trademark … [Read more...] about Local footwear makers target 50% domestic market share
Footwear
Deputy PM lauds apparel-footwear award
Deputy PM lauds apparel-footwear award By Ngoc Lan - The Saigon Times Daily HANOI - Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Sinh Hung has praised the selection of Vietnam's excellent garment-textile and leather-shoes firms that is organized annually to honor their efforts in weathering the tough times and achieving strong success. Thoi bao Kinh te Saigon of the Saigon Times Group and VITAS organized the sixth selection of garment-textile firms while footwear enterprises joined the playground for the first time this year in collaboration with the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (LEFASO). The combination is the result of key policies of the two associations to create a strong position for the fashion industry with a wide variety of products, LEFASO Chairman Nguyen Duc Thuan said at the awarding ceremony. Garment and textile is the leading export industry in Vietnam that is employing around two million workers and expects to reach US$9.2 billion in export earnings this year. Meanwhile, … [Read more...] about Deputy PM lauds apparel-footwear award
Footwear makers eye Canada as gateway to S. America
Footwear makers eye Canada as gateway to S. America By Thu Nguyet - The Saigon Times Daily HCMC - Local footwear makers in HCMC are eyeing Canada as a gateway to Central and South America in a move to diversify markets. Khanh said the trade counselor had found some partners in Canada who are ready to buy and distribute Vietnamese shoes in Central and South America, adding that "a Canadian business team will visit Vietnam soon to sound out opportunities." Vietnam is trying to look for alternative markets after a slowdown in key markets due to the global economic crisis and the European Union's 10% anti-dumping tariffs on leather shoes imports from Vietnam. Central and South America and the Middle East are considered new potential markets for Vietnamese shoes. "Lessons of the past reveal to us that we shouldn't rely heavily on one market. We are trying to increase exports to other markets in order to make up for shrinking orders from the EU," Khanh said. Vietnam earned US$4 billion … [Read more...] about Footwear makers eye Canada as gateway to S. America
UNICEF and apparel and footwear factories looking out for children
UNICEF and eleven factories in Vietnam’s footwear and apparel sector launched the “Children’s Rights in the Workplace Program for Footwear and Apparel Manufacturers” last week to look specifically at improving the wellbeing of children, working parents, and young workers. Mr Jesper Moller, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Viet Nam is speaking at the event. Photo from unicef.org As part of the initial activities, factories will roll out the “60 Minutes Working as a Mum” awareness raising campaign, which was developed in partnership with iCare Benefits and the Purpose Group to increase awareness on breastfeeding in the workplace among workers and to encourage management to introduce policies to support breastfeeding workers.“The footwear and apparel industry employs around 3.5 million workers in Vietnam, 80 per cent of whom are young women and most of them have migrated from rural areas to take factory jobs,” said Mr. Jesper Moller, … [Read more...] about UNICEF and apparel and footwear factories looking out for children
Eleven apparel and footwear factories in Viet Nam take the extra mile for children
As part of the initial activities, factories will roll out the awareness raising campaign 60 minutes working as a mum that was developed in partnership with iCare Benefits and the Purpose Group to increase awareness on breastfeeding in workplace among workers and to encourage management to introduce policies to support breastfeeding workers. “The footwear and apparel industry employs around 3.5 million workers in Viet Nam, 80% of whom are young women and most of them have migrated from rural areas to take factory jobs.” said Jesper Moller, UNICEF Deputy Representative in Viet Nam. “Therefore, those businesses impact millions of children, both directly and indirectly through the policies and practices for their workers. I commend the participating factories for recognizing the role that they play and for committing to take action and to become new child rights advocates.” This progamme launched is supported by UNICEF, the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and … [Read more...] about Eleven apparel and footwear factories in Viet Nam take the extra mile for children