VIENTIANE, March 24 (Xinhua) -- Garment exports of Laos were recorded at more than 37 million pieces, amounting to over 160 million U.S. dollars, according to the Association of the Lao Garment Industry on Friday.
The number of clothes exported dropped by five percent in 2016 compared to the previous year, President of the Association of the Lao Garment Industry Xaybandith Rasphone was quoted by Lao state-run news agency KPL as saying on Saturday.
"We will strive to increase our products constantly and marketing promotion to raise the volume of export this year," he said, adding that "We will work closely with the Industry and Handicraft Department of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce to make a strategic plan for development of the garment industry sector."
In addition, the association will continue to mobilize small-scale garment factories across the country to become members of the association in a bid to increase productivity in the future.
The association will also coordinate with local cloth shops to reduce importing clothes from neighboring countries, aiming at promoting domestic products consumption.
There are a total of 85 garment factories nationwide with more than 27,000 employees, of whom almost 90 percent are female, according to the latest information in 2016.
As many as 57 garment factories reported to producing garments for export, and 47 factories are members of the association.
The main export markets of Lao garments are the European Union, Japan, United States and Canada.
