The Australian Government is providing over $2 million to stakeholders in the garment industry for training of personnel as it prepares to make major changes to its textile trade agreement with Fiji.
Executive Member of the Textile Clothing and Footwear Council Mark Hallabe said the training is necessary to prepare for the implementation of the new rules of origin.
Hallabe said with the rules of origin for textile reduced from 35 to 25 percent, the future of the garment industry now looks secured.
Under the new rules of origin which comes into effect on January 1st,2008, garment manufacturers in Fiji will be required to ensure that only 25 percent of a finished product is made locally while under the previous agreement, 35 percent of the product was required to made in Fiji.
