The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) is helping Taiwan's traditional textile industry to increase value by lifting the quality and quantity of its products through technological innovation, the addition of aesthetic value and the development of specialty products, Premier Jiang Yi-huah said after a briefing on the program at today's Cabinet meeting.
In addition, the MOEA is encouraging businesses to strengthen their research and development (R&D) capabilities, embrace smart innovation, cooperate closely with enterprises down the industry value chain and master branding and distribution.
The ministry is pushing the industry to move toward what are considered the highest added-value stages of the industry value chain: R&D and branding and service.
The innovative fashion textile program is an example of the government's effort to rejuvenate traditional industries by making them specialty-oriented as part of the "three industries, four reforms" program, of which the premier ordered active and substantive implementation.
As each of the program's concrete initiatives involves the integration and application of the resources of other agencies, such as the Ministry of Education, the premier requested these bureaus to make a full effort on implementation.
"I hope that with the cooperation of the government, the textile industry will reach new heights through structural adjustment and the added value of design, aesthetics, and fashion brands," Jiang said.
According to the MOEA, the program's three key strategies are the establishment of refined specialty garment production lines, the development of co-branding as well as customized branding and distribution services. The program is intended to increase the value of the entire industry and to internationalize the textile and fashion industries. Taiwan's textiles are expected to be worth approximately NT$700 billion (US$23.3 billion) in 2020, with the establishment of five global brands, 10 network brands and two marketing brands and the employment of an additional 600 fashion designers.