CAIRO: Fashion and Saudi Arabia usually do not go hand in hand, but the ultra-conservative Gulf kingdom reported on Tuesday that their garment industry is continuing to see massive growth. According to Jeddah's Chamber of Commerce and Industries (JCCI) deputy chairman Mazen Batarji, in a statement to the media, the garment market in the country has risen to 8 billion Saudi riyals. According to Bartarji, in comments published by Apparel News Saudi Arabia, the country imports more than 85,000 tons of items annually, 90 percent of which come from Europe and Asia. France, Italy, China and Taiwan are the leading importers, while Arab countries including Egypt and Syria amount for around 10 percent. He was speaking at the first international exhibition “Moda Expo” on textiles and fashion in the Red Sea coastal city of Jeddah. According to the report, around 80 domestic and foreign firms specializing in garment production participated in the four-day expo. Egyptian and Syrian comanies were among those that showcased their latest collections of menswear, womenswear, kidswear and sportswear. The JCCI deputy chief added that such expos are meant to improve the economic and investment relations between the Kingdom and other nations. “Such events greatly help in boosting the trade activities between the participating nations,” he said. BM ShortURL: http://goo.gl/CQvVa Tags: Economy, Fashion, Garments Section: Business, Latest News, Saudi Arabia
