In 2005 there were 125 garment manufacturing firms in Fiji employing 20,000 staff and exporting around $300 million per annum and now Fiji has around 25 manufacturers remaining with a workforce of approximately 5000 and annual exports of $100 million.

This is the reality of the situation highlighted by Australian High Commissioner to Fiji James Bately as he opened a two day workshop on Market Development for the Textile Clothing and Footwear industry this morning in Suva.

Bately stressed that such loss of business had affected all firms which remain in the industry today however, further challenges lie ahead as the world moves towards free trade and removal of preferential prices, reduced tariffs, competitive market access and higher production costs.

He said against this background Australia agreed to provide training and technical assistance over a three year period costing AU$2 million, which is an example of Australia's long term commitment to Fiji's development, a commitment that remains in place, notwithstanding the political circumstances of the last 22 months.

The High Commissioner stressed that the success of Fiji's TCF industry in the future will require new thinking and new behaviors of its players and the workshop provides a great opportunity to explore creative, innovative and collaborative ways of raising the profile of Fiji manufactured goods in the international market.

Bately said no one company has all the time and resources necessary to go it alone, least of all in the current economic circumstances. The workshop ends tomorrow at the Holiday Inn in Suva.