USAID and ASSTEX present successful model to strengthen Serbian textile industry

Wednesday, 09 June 2010 11:10

The Sandžak Textile Industry Association – ASSTEX -- and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Regional Office in Novi Pazar presented results of their efforts to strengthen and revitalize Sandžak’s local textile industry at Hyatt Regency Hotel.

ASSTEX also will host a panel discussion concerning further development of Serbia’s textile industry, new textile export arrangements with the EU, the possible establishment of the national textile industry cluster and a new export support package provided by the Government of Serbia.

A fashion show organized by fashion agency Select featuring some of the most popular ASSTEX member textile products follows the panel discussion at 16h at the hotel.

Serving on the panel will be high-ranking representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Regional Development, Ministry for Environment Protection, USAID, German Agency for development (GTZ), Serbian Chamber of Commerce, Economic Diplomacy Department at the Embassy of the Republic of Poland in Serbia, as well as Serbian Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SIEPA) and Serbian Agency for Insurance and Financing of Export (AOFI).

ASSTEX is the leading textile industry cluster in Serbia with more than 135 members, all small and medium-size enterprises from Sandžak region. Formed in 2009, it promotes easier access to EU markets for its members, formulates a joint negotiation platform with governmental structures and provides options for joint investments.

ASSTEX serves as the driving force behind revitalization of the Sandžak textile industry; members have achieved notable results at several international trade fairs. The USAID is an active supporter and partner of ASSTEX through its Economic Security Program. In just a year, the USAID partnership with Sandzak’s textile cluster, consisted of 14 companies, has resulted in more than 140,000 dollars in generated sales