The ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)'s ASEAN Competitiveness Enhancement (ACE) Project launched "Source ASEAN.com", a new business-to-business (B2B) marketplace and networking portal at the Bangkok International Fashion Fair and Bangkok International Leather Fair 2009 (BIFF & BIL 2009).

www.SourceASEAN.com is ASEAN's first dedicated B2B web site offering the region's textile and apparel suppliers the opportunity to connect with each other and with global buyers. The website innovatively combines electronic marketplace features and social networking functionality and offers an interactive news and discussion portal dedicated to ASEAN textiles and apparel.

Registration on SourceASEAN.com for both buyers and sellers is free. Sellers who register now can take advantage of free premium membership for 12 months. Textiles and apparel firms can register for the website either at the AFTEX Booth in the ASEAN Pavilion or by logging on to www.SourceASEAN.com.

In addition to launching SourceASEAN.com, ACE Project Director R. J. Gurley and senior officials from AFTEX, Mr. Vansouieng (Chairman), Mr. Benny Soetrisno (Vice Chairman), Mr. Phongsak Assakul (Chairman Emeritus), and Mr. Andrew Hong (Permanent Secretary General), discussed other regional supply chain integration initiatives, such as creating virtual vertical factories throughout the region, and a new common competencies program.

AFTEX and ACE have developed a new competitiveness strategy for ASEAN's textile and apparel industry:  The Source ASEAN Full Service Alliance (SAFSA) Program.  Under the SAFSA Program,  ASEAN textile and apparel factories across the region will team up to form "Virtual Vertical Factories" (VVF), in order to offer global buyers a one-stop shop for a full range of products and services. SAFSA promotes regional integration, because the members of a VVF do not need to be based in a single country. Indeed SAFSA leverages the fact that the textile and apparel industries of the various ASEAN member countries possess comparative strengths and weaknesses along their respective supply chains.

The ACE Project is also working closely with the AFTEX Skill Task Force to develop the ASEAN Common Competencies Program (ACCP). ACCP will pilot the development of standardized skills training, testing, and certification for five garment industry jobs: Sewing machine operator; Sewing machine supervisor; Sewing machine mechanic; Pattern maker; and Merchandiser. In May, designated AFTEX member countries agreed to work on developing procedures for training, testing and certifying agreed competencies in each of the job positions.

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About AFTEX

The ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX) is a grouping of textile and garment associations of the 10 ASEAN member countries. Since 1977, AFTEX members have been meeting regularly to discuss policies and to implement ASEAN-wide projects, with the objectives of:-

• Advocating a common position on international trade policies.
• Promoting intra-ASEAN trade.
• Promoting ASEAN textiles and garments to the global marketplace.

About the ACE Project

The ASEAN Competitiveness Enhancement (ACE) Project is funded by the US Agency for International Development (USAID) and is part of the joint US State Department - USAID ASEAN Development Vision to Advance National Cooperation and Economic Integration (ADVANCE) program. ACE is enhancing the competitiveness and integration of ASEAN's textile and apparel and tourism supply chains. Working with the ASEAN Federation of Textile Industries (AFTEX), the ASEAN Tourism Association (ASEANTA), the ASEAN Secretariat, and other stakeholders, ACE is identifying and removing constraints in the business environment that affect ASEAN's competitiveness and integration.

ACE Project's objectives in the textiles and apparel sector are to:-
 

• Enhance and promote ASEAN's image and reputation in the global market as a reliable, full-package provider of quality textiles and apparel.
• Further integrate ASEAN's textile and apparel supply chains.
• Enhance the competitiveness, quality, and innovation of select ASEAN textile and apparel supply chain corridors through reduced lead times and improved product capabilities.