The confederation of Malaysian Textile, General Goods and Garment Merchants Association urged the government to remove import duties on textile and apparel to enhance the industry's production capacity to organize for the global competition.
Deputy Information Minister Datuk Donald Lim Siang Chai informed that the petition was submitted previous month to the Economic Planning Unit of the Prime Minister's Department.
He stated that the association was directed to submit the petition again to the Finance Ministry that could include the proposal in the next budget of the year 2006.
The imports duty on textile is 10 percent and 20 percent for apparel.
The country imported RM 5.12 billion worth of textile and apparel last year, whereas exports of the materials was totaled RM 12.64 billion.
The confederated groups include 13 trade associations representing small and medium scale manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers.
