According to the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the country’s exports earned some US$700 million in April, a 11.8 percent increase compared to the previous month.

The garment sector is focusing on materials production in an effort to raise the value of exported garments.

The Vietnam Garment and Textile Group (Vinatex) has joined the National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) to invest VND2 trillion (US$125 million) in producing polyester fibre from petrochemical products in Hai Phong-based Dinh Vu Industrial Park.

The group has also called for foreign investment in building three polyester factories in southern Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces.

In a move to have 45,000-50,000ha of cotton farms by 2010, Vinatex has developed farms in Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Dak Lak, Quang Ngai and Dong Nai provinces.