The US group Nike has affirmed Vietnam as its key production base, said Nick Athanasakos, Vice President in charge of global sourcing and manufacturing.
The Hanoitimes - The US group Nike has affirmed Vietnam as its key production base, said Nick Athanasakos, Vice President in charge of global sourcing and manufacturing.
Vietnam plays an extremely important role in Nike's manufacturing market, Athanasakos told Minister of Planning and Investment Bui Quang Vinh during his visit to
Vietnam last week.
According to the Nike official, the group exports about 158 million pairs of shoes every year (with the Nike and Converse brands), which are manufactured by 40 factories in
Vietnam, and generates about 300,000 jobs.
Approximately 50 percent of
Vietnam’s footwear exports are products of Nike, with the value of Nike shoes made in
Vietnam for export to the
US exceeding US$2 billion.
Athanasakos attributed labour cost as an important reason for the group to continue choosing
Vietnam as a production base.
The executive also said his group strives to raise the rate of domestic raw materials to reduce product costs.
Athanasakos said Nike is also looking forward to
Vietnam’s negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) and the Vietnam-EU free trade agreement (FTA).
TPP and FTA are very important to
Vietnam, he said, hoping that
Vietnam could successfully negotiate the two deals. According to him, the EU market is not only important for
Vietnam, but also for Nike.
