AFTEX AT 30

The ASEAN Federation of Textile Manufacturers or AFTEX was formed in 1977 as a grouping for all the textile and garment associations of the then-six ASEAN nations of Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand and Singapore. In the later years, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar also joined the group after their respective entries into ASEAN.

For 30 years, AFTEX members have been meeting regularly to discuss policies and to implement ASEAN-wide projects with the objectives of:

1. Having a common position on international trade policies
2. Promoting intra-ASEAN trade
3. Promoting ASEAN textile and garment to the global marketplace;

This year, AFTEX members will be holding the 24th Council Meeting in Singapore in celebration of AFTEX 30 years. This celebration programme will be sponsored by Cotton Incorporated and it will be held at the Singapore Fashion Week opening gala event in the presence of Mr. Lim Hng Kiang, Minister of Trade & Industries (Singapore).

For nearly 30 years, Cotton Incorporated has been a strong partner for the textile, apparel and fashion industries in the ASEAN market. Their ongoing support has included sharing their technical, economic and fashion/trend resources with the users of US cotton. It has been a mutually beneficial partnership; in which all parties have expanded their markets, increased their profitability and produced new and better cotton products. As more attention is being focused on the textiles and garments produced in this region, this relationship will continue to grow in scope and value.