Research hub to advance Vietnam's supply chain
HANOI: Establishing a research and development centre for Vietnam's fashion supply chain is crucial to facilitating technology transfer and connecting businesses with international markets.
This is the view of Tran Viet Hoa, director of the Vietnam Industry Agency under the Industry and Trade Ministry.
In December 2022, the Prime Minister issued a decision approving the development strategy for the country's textile, garment and leather industry through 2030.
The strategy outlines clear goals for the industry's sustainable and efficient development under a circular economy model.
Goals include improving the domestic production value chain, effectively participating in the global value chain and developing several regional and global brands.
To implement this plan, the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) and the Vietnam Leather, Footwear and Handbag Association (Lefaso) have proposed a solution to establish a research and development centre for the fashion supply chain during the 2026 to 2030 period.
Their aim is to connect and develop the fashion supply chain as well as showcase and test new raw materials, accessories and technologies.
Currently, the project is still in the research and planning phase, with a significant gap between the proposed plan and its actual implementation.
The Nhan Dan (People) newspaper quoted Lefaso's president Nguyen Duc Thuan as saying that the target of over US$100bil in exports requires the textile and leather industries to address the challenges of sourcing raw materials domestically, with the goal of achieving a 70% to 80% local material ratio within the next five years.
This approach would help eliminate intermediaries, reduce costs, elevate product value and enhance market competitiveness, he said.
Thuan also proposed that the government boldly create breakthrough mechanisms to establish a centre for raw material development, production and exhibition, as well as a research centre for the textile and leather industry.
One of the significant goals of Decision 1643 was the development of supporting industries and raw material supply centres for the textile and leather sectors, said Vitas vice-president Than Duc Viet.
However, after more than two years, the implementation process has remained relatively slow, he added. — Viet Nam News/ANN
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