ZEIST, The Netherlands — March 28, 2014 — CBI (Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries) and the International Apparel Federation (IAF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The goal of this MoU is to intensify collaboration between the two organisations in improving the apparel value chain in developing countries.
The MoU commits CBI and the IAF to share contacts, to involve each other in trade missions and to work together in projects which involve sourcing, value chain development, capacity building and CSR.
A Mutual Goal
The MoU was prepared by CBI expert Dhyana van der Pols and signed by CBI Programme Managers Tamar Hoek and Melanie van der Baaren-Haga and IAF Deputy Secretary General Matthijs Crietee. “We share a mutual goal, which is to improve the apparel value chain. In this agreement we have listed practical ways in which we can support each other in achieving this goal”, said Crietee.
Market Research
Cooperation in the field of market intelligence is also part of the MoU. CBI’s market intelligence department will offer its research studies to IAF members and the two parties will look for ways to cooperate in new research on trends in the apparel sector, industry developments, sourcing and supply chain management.
Tamar Hoek: “The IAF offers us a new platform to share our knowledge with business support organisations. By cooperating in the production and dissemination of market intelligence studies we will truly integrate with the worldwide apparel industry.”
More Than 60 Countries
The International Apparel Federation represents the interests of the global fashion chain. The federation has members in more than 60 countries in all continents. These include brands and manufacturers, their associations and their specialised suppliers.
CBI is an agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands. CBI’s mission is to contribute to sustainable economic development in developing countries through the expansion of exports from these countries.
The MoU is valid for two years and can be extended with another three years.
Posted March 30, 2014
Source: IAF
