Nhan Dan - The domestic garments and textiles sector has targeted to earn US$9.2-9.5 billion from exports in 2009, up 5% against 2008.

In order to achieve the target, the sector has worked out measures including strengthening the apparatus of the Vietnam garments and textiles group, increasing productivity, developing human resources, boosting investment in to selected projects of effectiveness, accelerating trade promotion activities and expanding export markets in the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Africa.

2009 has been forecast to be a year of continued great difficulties for the sector due to the global economic recession and competition pressure from Chinese products because from Janualy 1, 2009, Chinese garments and textiles products can enter the US market without quotas.

In the domestic market, competition is also fiercer as the retail market has been opened to foreign investors.

In 2008, the garments and textiles sector grew by 18% and earned US$9.1 billion from exports.