Garment and textile enterprises must develop new management methods and renew their production technologies to well adapt to new challenges like small and rapid orders as well as labour shortages, experts have said, Vietnam News Agency (VNA) reported.

Speaking at a ceremony held to globally launch the Arus overlock machine from China-based Jack Technology in Ho Chi Minh City on 16th, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Mai, Deputy General Secretary of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association, said though businesses have large orders, they are facing new challenges.

For instance, customers are more likely to place low-priced small orders with quick turnaround times or demand a more diverse range of products to choose from.

The industry is also facing a labour shortage, needing around 500,000 people for manual labour, managerial and designing roles.

She said Vietnamese businesses need to streamline their operations, adopt new technologies and apply automation to enhance quality and be able to fulfil small orders.

Vu Duc Giang, Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS), said the industry targets exports of around US$44 billion in 2024. As of the end of May, it had already exported over US$15.8 billion worth, up 4.3 percent year-on-year, he said.

This was owed to large markets such as the US and Europe being able to control inflation, driving up demand, he said.

Vietnam’s textile and garment businesses have also been proactive in diversifying markets and finding new customers.