Standing Committee Members Visit DTC Site
The Economic and Environmental Committee of the Daegu Metropolitan Council (Chairman Kim Jaeyong) visited the Daegu Textile Complex (DTC), where local textile and fashion companies and support facilities are concentrated, on the 2nd during the 311th temporary session, and held an on-site meeting with representatives from related organizations and companies.
This on-site visit was organized to directly listen to the difficulties faced by the local textile and fashion industry, which is gradually losing its footing due to Daegu's difficult financial situation and the city's focus on fostering new industries, and to discuss possible solutions together.
The committee members toured the company facilities and the Textile Museum within the DTC, then moved to a conference room to hold a meeting attended by the president of the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Textile Industry Association, representatives from seven textile and fashion companies, and senior officials from relevant Daegu city departments.
The companies present at the meeting expressed regret over the reduced policy support from Daegu city and shared various opinions on measures to strengthen the competitiveness of the textile and fashion industry in the future.
The participating companies mentioned cases where global brands are innovating their manufacturing processes through digital transformation using AI and big data, and explained the need for policy support for digital transformation in the local textile and fashion industry. They also emphasized the importance of integrating and expanding existing events such as the Daegu Collection, Textile and Fashion Encounter Exhibition, and Daegu Fashion Fair?which are currently held sporadically?into international marketing events.
In addition, several opinions were raised, such as strengthening support for establishing a joint Daegu pavilion at overseas exhibitions to expand export marketing of textile materials, and improving the treatment of industrial wastewater for companies located in the dyeing industrial complex. The relevant Daegu city departments responded to these suggestions, and committee members also shared their opinions.
Members of the Economic and Environmental Committee of Daegu City Council are visiting the DTC site and receiving explanations about the local textile industry.
After listening to various opinions, Chairman Kim Jaeyong (People Power Party, Buk-gu 3rd district) said, "The textile industry is an industry that will continue as long as humanity exists and is a major source of job creation," and added, "To ensure that the textile industry, which is the root of the local industry, is not neglected in favor of new industries, we will review the priorities of the proposals heard today and discuss support measures with Daegu city."
Meanwhile, according to the 2022 Statistics Korea Mining and Manufacturing Survey, the local textile industry still remains one of the region's major industries, accounting for 18.1% of manufacturing companies, 14% of employees, 8.2% of shipment value, and 7.6% of export value in the region. However, the scale of Daegu city's budget support, which reached 13 billion won in 2022, has decreased to 7 billion won in 2024, increasing disappointment in the industry. This is analyzed to be due to Daegu city's tight fiscal policy and the lowered policy priority of the industry.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
