Faced with the figures from the National Institute of Statistics and Census (INEC), industry representatives argue that the low production is mainly due to lack of personnel and training.
Augusto Corro Pinilla, president of the National Association of Clothes Making Industry, said: "... that the textile industry could still be revived, with one method being the incorporation of incentive laws."
"He cited as an example that in the Central American countries, for every 10 workers, governments give factories a tax bonus. He also recommends that tariffs are raised, as is the case in these countries where it is 30%", reported Panamaamerica.com.pa.
Source: Panamaamerica.com.pa
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August 2011
The high cost of labor and other input materials has forced some companies to close operations.
Contrary to the performance of other countries in the region, the Panamanian textile industry has shown a significant decline in recent years compared to the positive performance of the eighties.
August 2010
Panama's textile industry association has asked the government to provide tax incentives in order to maintain production levels.
Augusto Corro, president of the association, indicated that the sector is experiencing severe economic problems that put its survival at risk: "We don't want the sector to disappear so we are asking for exemption from taxes on machinery and inputs".
October 2010
The country aims to increase its exports to 530 products by 2014.
The new goal is part of an export strategy set by the Government which seeks to replace the current subsidy of 6% (Drawback) for foreign sales.
Capitales.com reports, "Authorities have also set other goals mostly related to increasing the number of export destinations from 52 to 60 and increase the number of exporters with sales greater than $500,000 from 428 in 2008 to 540 in 2014."
September 2009
The textile industry presented an economic proposal of salary increases through a productivity bonus.
Such proposal would increase the daily salary to $8.41 (Q70) via a productivity bonus.
Alejandro Ceballos, president of the Textile and Apparel Commission, told newspaper Prensa Libre: "The current minimum salary would be the future wage floor".
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