Bulgaria's Apparel Industry Sees Light at Tunnel's End

Industry | October 5, 2010, Tuesday // 13:24|  views

Bulgaria's apparel industry is recovering slowly. Photo by BGNES

Bulgaria's apparel and textile producers have registered a 20% growth of its sales in the first nine months of 2010 year-on-year.

According to the Bulgarian Association of Apparel and Textile Producers and Exporters, even with this growth, the manufacturing of apparel and textile in Bulgaria is much behind its pre-crisis levels.

Mariana Manolova, head of the Association, however, has said, as cited by the Pari Daily, that the growth of sales is a "breath of fresh air" for the industry, and that the plants will probably start hiring new workers.

The textile and apparel production was one of the industries in Bulgaria that laid off a large number of workers as the economic crisis hit in the last quarter of 2008.

The Bulgarian manufacturers produce clothes in the medium and high price range. About 90% of the Bulgarian apparel production is exported to the rest of the EU.

"75% of the clothes on the European market are produced in five of the 27 member states, and Bulgaria is one of these five states. The Bulgarian apparel exports go mostly to Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, and the UK, and we work for some of the top global brands. The reason for that is that our factories are well equipped and have well-trained workers," Manolova explained.

She said the Association of Apparel and Textile Producers is working on a new strategy for the development of the industry in Bulgaria.

The major problems for Bulgarian manufacturers, in her works, are the insufficient availability of credits and the illegal manufacturing, or the so called "gray economy".

"In spite of that the apparel industry in Bulgaria is developing well, and we expect a growth of sales in the coming season," Manolova predicted.

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Tags: Bulgarian Association of Apparel and Textile Producers and Exporters, Mariana Manolova, clothes, export, apparel industry

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