Asian textile industry must embrace digital transformation: Majyd Aziz

KARACHI: Former President, Employers’ Federation of Pakistan, Majyd Aziz has said that to be digital or not is no longer the option and so Asian textile industry must embrace digital transformation that is imperative and must make the most of it.

However, the truth is that these industries have a low score on the overall spectrum of digital adoption in comparison to other sectors. This is because of a number of reasons such as the nebulous nature of the industry, lack of awareness of digital tools, and absence of a proper business environment to enable this transformation, to mention only a few.

He was addressing on behalf of Asia and the Pacific Employers at the inaugural session of “ILO Tripartite Regional Meeting: towards a more resilient, inclusive and sustainable garment and textiles sector in Asia and the Pacific”, hosted virtually by the ILO Regional Office in Bangkok.

“Even before Covid struck, the textile industry in Asia and the Pacific was already experiencing the effects of other mega-trends, in particular of the digitalization transformation, including the automation of production and logistics processes, and this transformation is bringing in substantial improvements in production speed, precision, quality and supply chain visibility for the benefit of the entire industry”, he said.

EFP former president was of the opinion that modern technologies not only benefit the creation of new business models by responding to changing customer’s needs but also enhance working conditions and existing production processes with better management of hazardous stock, safer working environment, better workforce coordination, and improved equipment monitoring etc.

Majyd Aziz proposed that notwithstanding the intensive intra-regional competition and protection of share in the global marketplace, the garment manufacturers of Asia and the Pacific region must share better practices, such as the experience of ILO Better Work Program, and must display unanimity.

Aziz added that considering the critical mass that is so evident in Asean and Saarc countries, there is a need to establish a shared platform to promote, protect, and project common interests. This working together can pave the way to ensure that the industry becomes more sustainable, resilient and productive.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021