Approximately 620 of them were established last year.

Due to slow Chinese and foreign markets and the impact brought by the September 11 attacks in the United States, sales of Chinese clothing have been sluggish on domestic and foreign markets, said Jiang Hengjie, deputy director of the Chinese Garment Industry Association.

On the domestic market, the sales value has not increased simultaneously with the sales volume, due to endless price declines, Jiang said.

When a product's supply surpasses demand, producers have to take the market by offering lower prices. The price struggle has brought great losses to all producers and traders, he said.

Due to the slow world economy, the number of international garment and textile exhibitions has reduced, and, in turn, China has lost lots of opportunities in garment trading.

Many contracts for garment exports have been cancelled due to the impact of the September 11 event. Fewer new contracts have been signed for exports of Chinese garments so far this year than those inked in the same period last year.

"Garment exports will face great difficulties, at least in the first half of this year," Jiang said.

Men's garments, which have been neglected by the textile and clothing industry, will be in a worse situation, Jiang said.

The Men's Clothing Committee under the Chinese Garments Industry Association is urging Chinese enterprises to react promptly and work out related strategies to survive in the unfavorable conditions, he said.

At present, most Chinese garment enterprises produce according to state standards, and give little thoughts to creating new styles and varieties.

A survey among male consumers in Beijing showed about 30 percent failed in finding satisfactory suits and shirts on the market. "The result indicates there is still room on the domestic garment market for men's suits and shirts," Jiang said.

A representative of the men's clothing committee said an overall plan was made recently to speed up the development of men's clothing.

According to the plan, the committee will choose an appropriate time to sponsor two experts' symposiums on Western-style suits and shirts. The symposiums will focus on strategies to be implemented by Chinese garment enterprises to survive competition following China's entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

Measures will also be discussed on how to strengthen the management and expansion of garment markets, and what steps need to be taken by Chinese garment producers to create internationally famous brands.

A priority of the committee is to tighten the inspection of men's garments.

The work, to be jointly carried out by the committee and state inspection organizations, aims to increase the producers' awareness of the importance and improvement of quality goods. The result will determine what brands the state recommends for consumers, he said.

(China Daily January 19, 2002)