The Italy-Vietnam Textile Technology Center established at the HCMC University of Technology, on November 29 aimed at supporting the training and research in the textile technology aspect. This project will contribute to the development of Vietnam’s textile-garment industry, helping Vietnamese textile-garment enterprises approach technology transfer through technical training and assistance from the HCMC University of Technology and Italian experts.

This is an Italian Government-funded project between the Italian Trade Agency (ITA) and the HCMC University of Technology, with technical support from the Association of Italian Textile Machinery Manufacturers (ACIMIT) and the International Polytechnic for the Industrial and Economic Development (PISIE).

According to Prof. Dr. Vu Dinh Thanh, rector of the HCMC University of Technology, for the research and training purposes, the Italy-Vietnam Textile Technology Center has been equipped with made-in-Italy machinery and equipment, and Vietnamese lecturers and engineers in the sector have been trained by Italian experts. The center will be a reliable destination for training and supplying manpower for Vietnamese and Italian textile-garment businesses.

With the Italy-Vietnam Textile Technology Center, Vietnamese textile-garment enterprises will be able to have access to advanced technology and chances to exchange experience with professors and researchers from Italian universities.

However, the center requires Vietnamese universities to renovate their training programs so as to be able to train professional textile-garment experts, researchers and lecturers, who meet the actual demand of businesses.

Mr. Paolo Lemma, chief representative of the ITA in Vietnam, said that Vietnam is a potential market, with multiple business cooperation opportunities for Italian enterprises specializing in textile and apparel, leather and footwear, tanning, agriculture and infrastructure.

Vietnam has advantages in terms of human resources, economic conditions and an open market, which are favorable for the development of Italy’s strong sectors, and the two sides can help each other.

Italy is now the 18th biggest export market and the 15th biggest import market of Vietnam. According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam, the two-way trade between Vietnam and Italy was over US$2.88 billion in the first seven months of 2017, a year-on-year increase of 5.9%. Italy is also

Vietnam’s third largest trade partner in the EU, with two-way trade amounting to US$4.6 billion in 2016.

The “Italy-Vietnam Textile Technology Center” project was initiated in 2015 as a result of an array of initiatives implemented by the Italian Government after the issuance of an ordinance to launch a campaign to promote the “Made in Italy” brand for the country in 2014.

This project will contribute partly to promoting trade and developing cooperation between Italy and Vietnam and if the two countries’ enterprises strengthen their information exchange and cooperation, two-way trade will increase steadily.