UK and Germany buyers interested in FYR Macedonia's apparel producers

During this year’s Apparel Buyers Week, October 4t–8t, more than 20 FYR Macedonian apparel companies met to discuss possible export deals with six buyers from the United Kingdom and Germany. They are interested in extending their supplier base to include FYR Macedonian apparel producers. This second FYR Macedonia – E.U. Apparel Buyers Week was organized by the USAID FYR Macedonia Competiveness Project (MCP) as well as the Dutch Center for Promotion of Imports from Developing Countries (CBI), the German Technical Cooperation (GTZ), the Swiss Import Promotion Program (SIPPO) and the FYR Macedonia Textile Trade Association.

“USAID is helping FYR Macedonia become more competitive in the global economy,” said Joseph Lessard, USAID Economic Growth Director. “Through the Competitiveness  Project, we support initiatives such as this Apparel Buyers Week, assisting FYR Macedonia’s apparel companies to access new and higher value export markets in the E.U.”

This week’s meetings are a follow-up to the Business to Business (B2B) event held last March which resulted in new product sampling and orders. One U.K. buyer that participated has already placed repeat orders while two others are involved in prototyping and sampling for potential orders. Several other U.K. buyers that have become interested in FYR Macedonia after the B2B have also begun sampling. “The FYR Macedonian apparel industry needs to identify new markets and customers. This Buyers Week brings a new variety of potential buyers from the E.U. After the success of the previous B2B event in March, we expect more orders to take place” said Natasha Sivevska, Executive Director of the Textile Trade Association.

News source: Balkans.com link: article