ATP inspirou delegação sul-coreana com as melhores práticas associativas

On 26 June, the Portuguese Textile and Clothing Association (ATP) welcomed a delegation of 20 senior government officials from South Korea. The aim of the mission was to gain an insight into the industrial landscape of this important sector of the Portuguese economy, as well as ATP’s initiatives and activities in support of its members, particularly in the areas of internationalisation and innovation.

During the meeting, the South Korean delegation had the opportunity to observe at first hand the measures and projects developed by the ATP to foster the growth and strengthen the Portuguese textile and clothing industry in the global market. ATP outlined its initiatives and activities to promote the international competitiveness of companies, highlighting in particular the actions taken to support the sector’s expansion beyond national borders, chiefly through participation in trade fairs and missions, not only in Europe and the Americas, the main destinations for national exports, but also in the Americas and Asia, and even in Africa and Oceania. “In an industrial sector made up of medium, small and even micro-sized enterprises, we play a key role in developing their export capacity and innovating their product range, whether this consists of yarns, knits, fabrics or garments”, explained Paulo Melo, a member of the ATP’s executive board and also chairman of the Somelos Group, who further highlighted the important work carried out by the association in the legal and labour relations fields with a business community of SMEs. The sharing of knowledge and experiences with senior South Korean officials – who represented key municipalities in the country seeking to strengthen the local textile sector – enabled the identification of potential areas for future cooperation, reinforcing the importance of international collaboration for economic and industrial development. The South Korean delegation was greatly impressed by the adaptability and resilience of Portuguese companies in the face of both cyclical and structural challenges, as well as by the projects developed by the ATP to foster innovation and international expansion. “The warm welcome and ATP’s openness in sharing its policies and strategies were key to the success of this visit. We are sincerely grateful for this opportunity and hope to reciprocate this hospitality,” said Park Chong Min, Director-General of the Institute for the Development of Local Government Officials, who led the delegation, upon their departure.