In spite of manufacturing superior quality garments, exports of Brunei have been declining rapidly making it difficult for local producers to survive in the industry.
A common opinion shared by Brunei garment exporters is that the industry may not even survive for the next 10 years because for the world market today it's the cost that counts not the quality.
Exporters are loosing orders from popular designers like DKNY and Tommy Hilfiger. Some of the major reasons behind drop in the exports of garment sector are availability of cheap labor in neighboring countries like China, Vietnam and Cambodia who enjoy free labor quotas and this makes it easier for them offer lower prices compared to that of Brunei.
Although Brunei can grab the opportunity of buying inexpensive raw materials from China, exporters are doubtful about the quality and would rather prefer to keep up to their standards.
At present, Brunei is left with only four garment factories. Government statistics show that exports this year declined by 47.8 percent from $398.3 million in 2003 to $207.7 million last year.
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