The Ukrainian Association of Textile Industry (Ukrlegprom) develops cooperation with the European Apparel and Textile Association (EuraTex), now even at the level of the Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA). Ukrlegprom that previously had contacts and relations with EuraTex, took advantage of the Clusters2Clusters meeting of sewing clusters on April 6, organized by UCA together with the European Cluster Alliance (ECA) and with the European Commission participating. The meeting was an additional impetus for the rapprochement of both partners. As a result of subsequent negotiations between Ukrlegprom and EuroTex in April and May, the parties reached the following agreements:
- Ukrlegprom joins EuraTex on a free basis – see announcement on the EuraTex website.
- The parties launch a systematic industrial dialogue aimed at assisting EuraTex to help Ukrainian businesses and better integrate Ukrainian enterprises into the EU’s value added chains.
- For ongoing exchanges with the Ukrainian side, EuraTex provides 1 contact person to be in constant contact and facilitate exchanges of both parties’ representatives, including translation and communications.
- Ukrlegprom will be presented at the EuraTex conference on June 16 in Brussels with a separate report on the state of the industry in Ukraine and proposals for the European side.
Tetyana Izovit, chairman of the Ukrlegprom board, considers this as the good start for a new stage in the development of relations between Ukraine’s textile industry and relevant EU structures. UCA plans to ensure further cooperation between the parties through good quality communications within UCA, ECA as well as with a wide range of stakeholders both in Ukraine and abroad.
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The Ukrainian Association of Textile Industry Enterprises (Ukrlegprom, https://ukrlegprom.org/ua/, established in 2000) unites 257 (as of early 2021) leading Ukrainian light industry enterprises on a voluntary basis. Members of the Association produce more than 60 % of the total volume of Ukrainian light industry production. For over 20 years Ukrlegprom has been representing the domestic light industry producers’ interests in the Ukrainian government promoting their development.
Ukrainian Cluster Alliance (UCA, https://www.clusters.org.ua/) unites 32 Ukrainian industrial clusters and cluster organisations. UCA is the first cluster association in Ukraine committed for the development of the clusters at the national level. The UCA mission is to accelerate the clusterisation of Ukraine’s economy, make it more integrated into international value chains and more innovative. During war times in Ukraine, UCA focuces in the resilience of value / supply chain in critical industries (food, drug, clothes and infrastructure).
The European Cluster Alliance (ECA, https://clustersalliance.eu/) unites 18 national associations/ambassadors and more than 800 cluster organisations. The ECA mission is to be the common voice of the European cluster community, facilitating inputs, connections, and opportunities to meet common challenges. ECA operates with a vision to position industrial clusters as key agents in the European innovative ecosystem for the development and growth of economy and competitiveness.