SRI LANKA: TEXTILE AND APPAREL SECTOR CONCERNS FOR 2008:

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 COLOMBO 000092 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/INS AND EEB/TPP/ABT JOHN FINN AND GARY A CLEMENTS COMMERCE/ITA/OTEXA FOR MARIA D'ANDREA STATE PLS PASS TO USTR CAROYL MILLER AND ADINA ADLER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD KTEX CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: TEXTILE AND APPAREL SECTOR CONCERNS FOR 2008: U.S. RECESSION AND EU GSP+ REF: 07 COLOMBO 1355 ¶1. (U) Summary: Sri Lanka's garment sector remains healthy, but is concerned about the possible impact of a U.S. recession. An even more pressing worry is the possibility of losing preferential access to the EU market under the EU's GSP+ program. The industry is frustrated that the government is not doing enough to help maintain GSP+. On an upbeat note, major garment producer Brandix will soon announce plans to open three factories in the war-torn East. Other positive industry initiatives, involving ethical and environmental production practices, are helping the Sri Lankan garment industry differentiate itself from its lower cost competitors. End summary. ¶2. (U) On January 8 EconOff met Ajith Dias, Chairman of the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF),which represents all apparel and textile businesses in country. Dias underscored his concerns for both the U.S. and EU markets, while highlighting positive actions by several JAAF members. Dias also noted that he hoped the GSL and India would soon sign an agreement that will allow additional duty-free access of garments to the Indian market under the Indo-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement. Garments 50% of Sri Lanka's Exports -------------- ¶3. (U) A three-plus billion dollar industry, SL apparel and textile production accounts for approximately 50% of Sri Lanka's total exports and 67% of its industrial production. It employs approximately 270,000 individuals directly and nearly ONE million indirectly. It is the single largest employer in the manufacturing sector and the single largest employer of women. Its focus on high-end production and ethical business practices (no child labor, empowerment of women, a move towards eco-friendly production) places it at the top of producers in South Asia, both in terms of respect for worker rights and in price-per-garment charges. ¶4. (U) Basic Data: (2007 Estimates) Total industrial production: $9.81 billion Total textile/apparel/leather production: $3.35 billion Textile/apparel exports: $3.20 billion Textile/apparel exports to the US: $1.63 billion Textile/apparel share of total exports: 43% Textile/apparel share of total imports: 15% Total manufacturing employment: 1,363,000 (2006) U.S. Market Concerns Looming -------------- ¶5. (U) The entire sector is watching the U.S. economy with concern. Although sales to the U.S. remained significant, there was a 5% decline during the first eleven months of 2007. Companies are concerned that a further downturn in the economy or recession will cause orders to decline considerably in 2008. Sri Lanka also remains worried that the industry will suffer significantly if China safeguards are lifted as planned at the end of 2008. (Note: Twenty percent of Sri Lanka's exports to the U.S. are concentrated in categories currently protected by China safeguards.) While industry heavy-hitter Brandix CEO Ashroff Omar does note that not all business will be lost to cheaper Chinese factories because of a desire by U.S. buyers to diversify geographically, the losses due to a lifting of safeguards will be substantial. ¶6. (U) Following its "Garments Without Guilt" roadshow to the U.S. in 2007, JAAF has continued to engage -- via a D.C. lobbying firm -- with Members and staff in Congress to heighten interest in securing preferential treatment for Sri Lanka. Nevertheless, Sri Lanka has not been added to various trade bills that would allow import concessions for developing countries. Dias admitted that garnering interest in Sri Lanka during the election season will be difficult. The current perception of Sri Lanka on the Hill as a country with serious human rights concerns is also hampering efforts to portray Sri Lanka, and specifically the textile/apparel industry, positively. Nevertheless, Dias hopes that efforts directed at COLOMBO 00000092 002 OF 003 Senators and committee staff will help to convince Congress of the necessity of preferential treatment legislation in advance of the removal of Chinese safeguards. GSP+: Can Sri Lanka Maintain Preferential Access to the EU? -------------- ¶7. (U) The U.S. aside, by far the greatest fear for the apparel sector is that Sri Lanka will fail to qualify for GSP+ in 2008. The GSP+ program gives duty free treatment to most exports from developing countries that qualify by having ratified and implemented key international political, human and labor rights conventions. Under GSP+, Sri Lanka can export finished garments duty free to the EU, as long as there is over 50% domestic value addition and domestic double transformation (i.e., yarn to fabric conversion, and fabric to clothing conversion). Under GSP+, which came into effect in 2005, Sri Lanka's garment exports to the EU have grown at an impressive rate. In 2006, Sri Lanka's market share in the EU grew by 12%. In 2007, it grew another 22%. However, increasing concerns over Sri Lanka's commitment to human rights are endangering Sri Lanka's eligibility. JAAF is trying to emphasize to the EU that rights within the industry are excellent. However, to get its message across effectively, the industry needs the government's assistance. ¶8. (SBU) According to Dias, the industry was alarmed by the government's plan earlier this year to replace Sri Lanka's current ambassador and commercial attache to the EU, both of whom have extensive experience with GSP+ issues, with less experienced people. The industry registered its concerns with the government, and now is confident that the government will send qualified people. Specifically, the new ambassador is to be Ravinath Ariyasinghe, who is currently the Foreign Ministry's communications director and was DCM in Washington until 2006. The new commercial attache, the government has promised, will be a senior Commerce Department official familiar with trade issues like GSP+. Dias reports that JAAF feels the government was, in this case, responsive to its concerns. Likewise, apparel industry leaders' recent pleas to President Rajapaksa for more support on the GSP+ issue led the president to appoint a "GSP+ Defender" team composed of four ministers. Unfortunately, according to Dias, these ministers have little experience in trade negotiations. ¶9. (SBU) The industry is receiving help from an unlikely source -- local trade unions. Anton Marcus, General Secretary of the Free Trade Zones and General Services Employees' Union, stated recently that the union will support continuation of GSP+, as its removal would cause a negative impact on workers. The unions had previously threatened to lobby the EU against renewal of GSP+ on the grounds that the government and industry are not fully adhering to ILO conventions. Specifically, the unions are critical of garment factory management for encouraging "workers councils" in lieu of unions. These councils have elected representatives who negotiate with management like unions, but do not charge union fees and are generally less confrontational and less political than unions. Positive Developments: Factories in the East, Ethical Business Practices -------------- -------------- ¶10. (U) Although serious concerns for the export market weigh heavily on the industry, there are also many positive developments. Brandix will announce its plans to open three factories in a predominately Tamil and Muslim area of the Batticaloa district in the East. It will be the first company to take advantage of government incentives aimed at rebuilding the war-torn area. Brandix also recently won "Fairtrade" and organic certification for its woven fabric mill. MAS, another large producer, recently opened what it billed as the world's first eco-friendly industrial park dedicated to fabric and apparel manufacturing. Building on its knowledge and experience as the largest producer of intimate wear in South Asia, MAS also recently launched the first brand-name lingerie from Sri Lanka; it will be marketed throughout India by mid-2008. Active in corporate social responsibility, the apparel sector COLOMBO 00000092 003 OF 003 continues to look at ways to "Go Beyond" (as ONE campaign is entitled) the basic employer-employee relationship to help further educate and empower the workforce. ¶11. (SBU) Comment: The textile/apparel industry effort to market itself to foreign companies and consumers as the alternative, ethical choice is a logical one. Recognizing that it will never beat China, India, or most other countries in terms of production costs, its future lies in marketing to companies who want to demonstrate to their clients that their products were made under ethnical conditions in factories supporting internationally-recognized labor practices, and without undue damage to the environment. To date, the industry has been able to attract buyers particularly interested in ethical practices. Victoria's Secret, Gap, and Marks and Spencer, among many other apparel giants, SIPDIS source clothing from Sri Lanka, and regularly highlight Sri Lankan companies in their annual reports to shareholders. Production under ecologically-friendly conditions is gaining interest among buyers as well, and industry leaders expect such interest to increase in the near and long-term. However, time will tell if the industry's efforts are enough in light of the challenges it faces from China, the EU, and a slowing U.S. economy. BLAKE