As the U.S. continues to
look at existing and potentially new trade agreements around the globe, issues
of social and environmental compliance, increasing exports of U.S. fashion to
overseas markets, etc. issues of trade and government will be a growing
component for experts along the supply chain.
Events & seminars at
SOURCING at MAGIC will feature:
- Israel and Egypt celebrate ten years of collaboration within the apparel sector opening trade doors with the U.S.
- FASHION AND GOVERNMENT: KNOWING THE RULES OF THE GAME
- SHIFTING TRADE WINDS: DUTY FREE OPTIONS / SPOTLIGHT ON QIZ for ISRAEL AND EGYPT
- APPAREL AT A CROSSROADS: THE END OF LOW-COST-COUNTRY SOURCING
#1 - Egypt + Israel – 10th Anniversary of
QIZ, SOURCING at MAGIC
CELEBRATES
Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ) started operating in 7 designated industrial locations in Egypt. Starting with an initial 397 qualified companies in these 7 locations, QIZ has rapidly expanded to encompass over 15 currently designated industrial zones, with nearly 700 qualified companies, and more qualifying each quarter, amounting to more than $1 billion annual revenues.
As global competitiveness increases, Egypt’s QIZ offers investors significant long-term advantages over other preferential trade agreements due to its ongoing commitment with no expiration date and no reduction in tariff schedules.
This February, Sourcing at MAGIC will celebrate 10-years of this agreement with senior level trade ministry from Israel, Egypt and U.S. on-hand in Las Vegas.
According to Christopher Griffin, President of WWDMAGIC:
“Our goal is to provide
significant exposure to issues impacting the world of fashion from the drawing
board to the supply chain and onto the retail floor,” said Christopher Griffin,
President of WWDMAGIC. “SOURCING at MAGIC is proud to honor this achievement
between Israel, Egypt and the U.S. Celebrating 10 years of QIZ is both
significant.”
FASHION
AND GOVERNMENT: KNOWING THE RULES OF THE GAME
February
17, 3:30 PM - 5:00 PM,
LVCC SOUTH HALL, LEVEL 2, ROOM S229
If you don’t think politics play a role in the fashion
industry, think again! From forcing decisions about the design and development
of your brand, to environmental policies and worker’s rights affecting how and
what you source, and rules around labeling and marketing your product, the world
of policymakers and government are ruling your
business. SPEAKERS:
- Juanita D. Duggan, President and CEO, AAFA
- Rick Helfenbein, President, TellaS Ltd., AAFA Chairman
- Tim Lyons, President, Haggar Clothing Co., AAFA Board Director
- Tom Nelson, Vice President, Global Product Procurement, VF CORPORATION
SHIFTING
TRADE WINDS: DUTY FREE OPTIONS UPDATE/ SPOTLIGHT ON QIZ for ISRAEL AND
EGYPT
February,
17 - 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM,
LVCC, SOUTH HALL, LEVEL 2, ROOM S229
Sourcing executives are facing challenges such as rising
wages, environmental accountability, security issues and fluctuating currencies.
Creating new sourcing strategies must include use of major free trade
initiatives currently in place with the U.S. Strategies for future apparel
sourcing experts will take advantage of the duty free exports by using the
Egyptian QIZ's under the Israel FTA! as well as the AGOA bill for Africa. This
special session will outline the free trade options currently available, stress
the advantages of implementation and celebrate the 10th anniversary of the
QIZ.
MODERATOR:
- Julia K. Hughes, President USFIA
SPEAKERS:
- Peter Hagen, Sr. Product Manager, TARGET
- Mohammed Kassem, Chairman of Egyptian, READY-MADE GARMENT EXPORT COUNCIL
- Gail Strickler, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Textiles, OFFICE OF THE U.S. TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
- Mr. Yaron Harel, CEO, HAAMA (ISRAEL)
APPAREL
AT A CROSSROADS: THE END OF LOW-COST-COUNTRY SOURCING
February,
17 - 10:30 AM - 11:30
AM, LVCC
SOUTH HALL, LEVEL 2, ROOM S229
Sooner or later, there will be no low-cost countries left
to meet apparel makers' needs. Companies must free themselves of the fallacy
that keeping labor costs down is their only option and halt the perpetual
migration of production from one country to the next. Join Bharat Khandelwal,
partner and global topic expert in Apparel at The Boston Consulting Group (BCG),
to learn how companies can get ahead by assessing what they can do in their
existing facilities to generate sustainable efficiency gains, improve their
speed to market, and take the pressure off labor cost
management.
MODERATOR:
- Barbara Ende, President, SYCAMORE MARKETING GROUP INC.
KEYNOTE PRESENTER:
- Bharat Khandelwal, Partner, BOSTON CONSULTING GROUP
Thank you for taking the time to read our apparel industry blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.
