Vietnam sets to export 14-bln-USD footwear in 2015

Vietnam is expected to earn some 14 billion U.S. dollars from footwear exports this year, the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association (LEFASO) said on Tuesday.

Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, secretary general of the LEFASO, was quoted by the state-run Voice of Vietnam radio as saying that the free trade agreements with foreign partners that Vietnam is negotiating, including the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), are expected to lure more investment to the sector as well as boost exports.

The target of 14 billion U.S. dollars in export revenue was feasible as orders with major brands were available and likely to increase, Xuan said.

"We will continue to focus on boosting export growth, controlling domestic market, increasing localization ratio to 70 percent and setting up material zones to meet production needs," he said. "We will also improve the quality of human resources, increase productivity, turn out high quality products, ensure social security for workers, and create a safe production environment toward sustainability."

In 2014, Vietnam's footwear industry recorded a record high with 12 billion U.S. dollars in revenue, up 18 percent year-on- year, according to the LEFASO. The country has become one of the world's top 10 footwear exporters. Enditem