There’s no holding back the Malaysian textile industry for the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPPA) for the country will soon sign the agreement. The agreement holds promise of growing investment. International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) secretary-general Datuk J Jayasiri said Malaysia could capitalise on the yarn-forward rule of origin and serve the needs of textile and garment makers as well as consumers among the signatory countries. The yarn-forward rule stipulates all fabrics produced in a garment from yarn made by TPP member states qualify for the trade agreement's duty-free status.

Jayasiri said that before the agreement comes into effect, Malaysia has already seen foreign investors coming in as they find the country a better choice to produce input supply to this market. He was speaking on the sidelines of a three-day seminar themed ‘Unboxing TPPA for Business Strategy for the Textile and Apparel Industry’ organised by the Malaysian Textile Manufacturers Association.

Malaysia could grab hold of the manufacturing of synthetics-based products and high-end garments, which were high value-added products, that the country needed to promote. As the agreement specified a provision of short supply list providing an exception for TPPA member states to buy raw materials from non-members, Malaysia would benefit from it to a certain extent.