North's textile firms 'must shed 4,000 jobs to survive'

A new report says more than 4,000 jobs in the Northern Ireland textile and clothing industry will go over the next four years even if the region implements a new survival action plan.

In the past four years 5,000 jobs have gone in the industry in the region as traditional customers increasingly prefer to source their products overseas.

The report produced by international business consultants Kurt Salmon Associates indicates more decline has to be accepted even if their proposals for injecting new thinking into the industry are accepted.

It said current employment was 18,000 and if the proposals were accepted a sustainable industry with 13,500 employees could be in place by 2005.

It did not predict how bad the decline would be if nothing was done, but proposed an Action Plan involving increased investment of up to an additional £119 million over five years and further initiatives to develop employee skills.

Launching the report, Northern Ireland Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment Sir Reg Empey said: "This vitally important study signposts the way ahead for textiles and clothing companies in Northern Ireland."

He was confident the industry could "reinvent itself" and he was keen to push ahead with the agreed actions as quickly as possible.

"If we are to regenerate and secure the future of this industry, the jobs of the people currently employed and to create new opportunities, we must act quickly and decisively," said Sir Reg.

The report showed the regrettable decline in the industry could be halted and reversed if companies were prepared to explore opportunities in growth sub-sectors such as technical textiles, branded apparel and added value activities like product innovation, strategic alliances and e-commerce.

The minister said in meetings he had held with managers of individual companies and representative bodies he had gained a strong impression there was a determination throughout the industry "to take whatever steps are necessary to turn back the tide of decline".