The Pakistan textile industry to see new avenues opening for them to collaborate with international buyers and leading brands as the International Apparel Federation (IAF) is planning to open its first regional office at the Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers and Exporters Assoication (PRGMEA) House in Sialkot.

PRGMEA Central Chairman Ijaz Khokhar said that the IAF will address major issues being faced by the textile industry of Pakistan and bring those issues to limelight, including compliance, gender training and exchanges of delegations.

This office besides granting domestic membership to garment manufacturers, it will also help in arranging B2B meetings among importers and exporters of apparel sector across the world.

The move seems a timely step considering Pakistan’s rapidly declining textile sector and its dwindling exports.

PRGMEA will also ink an MoU with the Dutch National Fashion & Textile Association Netherlands (MODINT) for the first time in Asia.

The MODINT, which is the largest importers association of home textile, garments and textile, will sign a MoU aimed at enhancing trade of readymade garments between Pakistan and the Netherlands.

Khokhar said that IAF President Han Bekke and Secretary General Matthijs Crietee will visit Pakistan to inaugurate the regional office and the newly-constructed PRGMEA office in Sialkot.