May 13, 2003	Tuesday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 10, 1424

PORT LOUIS, May 12: Mauritius said on Monday small textile exporters like itself must reform their industries if they want to survive fierce competition from next year when they lose their preferential access to western markets.

The global textile trade could end up controlled by a few big producers like China or India, Jaya Krishna Cuttaree, the minister of industry and international trade, told Reuters. “It is going to be very difficult for us to survive unless we restructure our industry,” he said. “If not, our industries will just disappear and this will be catastrophic.”

The phasing out of the Multi-Fibre Agreement (MFA) in December 2004 will end strict quotas imposed by western states on big textile producers like China, India and Pakistan, which are now likely to become a threat to countries such as Mauritius and Bangladesh that have enjoyed unlimited access.—Reuters