The European Clothing and Textile Alliance (Euratex) launches the EU-Ukrainian Textile Initiative (EUTI) to promote cooperation between European and Ukrainian textile and clothing companies.
Euratex, the trade association representing European textile companies, launched the initiative on May 9 to provide a single point of contact for Ukrainian businesses seeking support and cooperation with their EU counterparts. The association said in a statement that the link would help allocate supply and demand, as there are many demands for textile supplies, and help provide support to Ukrainian businesses by participating in public procurement.
Euratex said the service will be coordinated by them in close cooperation with the Ukrainian Association of Textile and Leather Industry Enterprises (Ukrlegprom). Olena Garkusha, an experienced Ukrainian textile industry manager currently living in Brussels, will serve as liaison.
Dirk Vantyghem, Director General of Euratex, commented: Supporting the textile industry is our way of helping the Ukrainian people. We encourage European members to connect through EUTI and develop sustainable partnerships.
Euratex points out that EU exports to Ukraine will reach 1.3 billion euros ($1.4 billion) in 2021, and imports from Ukraine will reach 500 million euros, so it is possible that in the short term Expand relationships to respond to urgent needs. But in the long term, as a partner of the PEM Convention. Euratex said Ukraine could play an important role in Europe’s textile and clothing supply chains.
Euratex also pointed out that the European Union proposed to suspend tariffs on imported products from Ukraine, which would provide the country with more opportunities.
Tetyana Izovit, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Ukrlegprom, welcomed the initiative: Today we have many textile and clothing companies in Ukraine with professional knowledge and skilled workers; they are able and willing Cooperation with EU but lack of contacts, customers and supplies. EUTI will help them.
In March this year, Euratex urged the European Union to control the surge in oil and natural gas prices, saying that many textile and clothing companies would be forced to suspend production due to rising energy costs.
