A new business model is to be implemented by the apparel industry to achieve US$ 5 billion in exports in 2018, according to Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) Secretary General Tuly Cooray.

He predicts that this year would be the best for the industry, adding that exports have amounted to 450 million dollars so far.

Due to the labour shortage in the country, the skills development aspect is to be considered to encourage more young people to enter the industry. Cooray has also stated that the results of a survey on society’s perception of the apparel industry workforce are to be used for image building.

In addition, he notes that while Sri Lanka is reputed for sewing apparel in the region, the future will involve the use of multitask machines.