Local textile industry faces tough competition for slice of European market CAIRO: Egyptian textiles are on the right track in penetrating the European market, but must find a way past Chinese and Turkish competition, Christian Bartel, General Manager of Turkey-based textile consulting company Systain, told the press at the German Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce on Tuesday. "China is coming and Turkey is here, Bartel said, "Egypt needs to find its way between the two with cheap garments, he said marking the end of a three-day Textile Export Workshop. "Egypt is on the right track. Yet there are things that still need to be done. The problems aren't only in garment production, but also in the supply chain. That's why it was important to discuss this in the workshop. Supply Chain Management is key for the market, Bartel added. The Textile Export Workshops (TEWs) are organized by the SME Promotion Program of the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), Systain (part of the German Otto Group), the German Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Berlin-based Global Project Partners (GPP). The aim of these TEWs is to support Egyptian textile manufacturers in improving their position in the European market. "This is an endeavor to make Egyptian companies competitive in such a competitive market like Europe, said Peter Goprich, CEO of the German Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce. Ali Dessouki, Deputy Country Director of GTZ Egypt, said: "The textile sector is a strategic industry for Egypt. It is vital for the GDP and economic growth. Therefore we need to make it more competitive to handle the highly competitive markets. Exports are essential for growth. Attendees discussed modules on Supply Chain Management, Design and Development and How to export to Europe during the three days of the workshop. They also talked about the sustainability of the textile market. Four TEWs have been held in Egypt since June 2005, in Cairo, Mahalla Al-Kobra and Alexandria.
