Export figures for the textile, clothing and footwear industry is expected to be slightly lower this year due to the effects of Tropical Cyclone Winston.

The industry contributes around $100 million to the country’s GDP annually.

TCF Council President Kaushik Kumar says this year has been quite challenging for the industry due to cyclone Winston.

Ministry of Industry and Trade Permanent Secretary Shaheen Ali says the government will continue to support the industry

“TCF sector in Fiji has re-invented itself, reconsolidated itself and has consolidated its traditional markets such as Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island countries but it also has great opportunity in the emerging market such as North America and Europe and Asia so there is we think that there is tremendous amount of potential. TCF will continue to be one of the major contributors to the Fijian GDP and Fijian exports.”

The industry currently employs 7000 people in over forty factories in the country, directly having an impact on more than 20,000 people.