TMAS, Textile Machinery Association of Sweden, has established a local office in the seventh district of Ho Chi Minh City. Heading the office is Tran Phuoc Thanh, Business Development Representative for TMAS in Vietnam.

Mr Tran comes with experience from the Vietnam National Textile and Garment Group. He has also gathered insights into the industry and undergone training in Sweden, from the Swedish textile machinery makers and their customers. Mr Tran is strategically positioned to market Swedish machinery, as well as drive sales and support for TMAS companies in Vietnam.

“TMAS is positioned for the long-term in Vietnam. The country is emerging as the new global production centre of textile products. We want to be part of this exciting growth and expansion. We believe we have a lot to offer in terms of our knowledge, expertise and innovative technology,” said Mikael Äremann, president, TMAS.

It has been estimated production in the Vietnamese textiles and clothing industry will increase by an average of 12-14% between 2016 -2020. Export is expected to reach US$ 50 billion by 2020, rising from US$ 28 billion in 2016.

Vietnamese textiles industry

The textiles industry is growing dramatically, and Vietnam has been identified as a hub for the Asian textiles industry in the next decade. The main reason for this is the increasing cost levels in China, causing many textile and garment brands to relocate in Vietnam. In fact, TMAS companies in Sweden have already started realising a notable increase in demand for their products and services.

“TMAS companies are the perfect match for the Vietnamese textiles industry. We are a relatively small, tight-knit group of companies, each specialising in a different key area along the manufacturing process. Our size allows us to be flexible. We work closely with our customers, we listen and adapt quickly to their changing needs as they respond to market demands,” emphasised Therese Premler-Andersson, Secretary General, TMAS.

Textile companies in Vietnam are looking for ways to be competitive, and the country is clearly demonstrating that it has the capacity and stamina to deliver, according to the association. TMAS says it is committed to enabling the Vietnamese textiles industry to flourish well over time.

The Vietnamese textiles industry has all the right pre-requisites to sustain healthy, long-term growth, the association reports. “The Vietnamese people are resilient and hardworking, with many who are educated and conversant in English. The country has a long history of overcoming challenges and adapting to change,” said Mr Äremann. “Indeed, workers are increasing their skills with every year, and companies are fast realising that progress that took several years in China is now taking much shorter time in Vietnam.”

Demands of Industry 4.0

The challenges and demands of Industry 4.0 are also transforming the global textiles industry. Therefore, environmental and social sustainability, and the importance of smart solutions is of the highest priority for TMAS companies. The goal of all member companies is to achieve better performance and efficiency while maintaining the highest levels of quality. TMAS is bringing world-leading Swedish innovative expertise of smart industries into Vietnam, which will make Vietnam highly competitive globally.

“TMAS is reflective of Sweden’s reputation for reliability, quality and world leading technology. R&D is important and TMAS companies have a solid track record for ensuring their customers achieve long-term profitability and growth. Building smart, sustainable solutions is in our DNA, and we will definitely meet the drive for innovation in Vietnam,” said Mrs Premler-Andersson.

www.tmas.se