SOURCING at MAGIC QIZ for Israel and Egypt

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 – 10^th Anniversary of QIZ, SOURCING at MAGIC CELEBRATES

In early 2005, Egypt, Israel and the United States signed a trade agreement called Qualifying Industrial Zones (QIZ). QIZ are designated geographic areas, within Egypt, that enjoy a duty free status with the United States. Companies located within such zones are granted duty free access to the US markets, provided that they satisfy the agreed upon Israeli component.

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.”

#2 - SEMINARS: 

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

Learn more about Sourcing at MAGIC February 2015 here on the Fashion Blog.

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