It's not easy, but a textile firm based on the tiny African island of Mauritius has been holding its own when it comes to competing with Chinese textile manufacturers on the global stage. As Mauritius-based Socota Textile Mills explains in an International Herald Tribune article, its approach has been to "serve customers' specific needs, rather than trying to beat Chinese companies head to head on price alone."
By concentrating on their comparative strengths, including tailoring to the needs of customers and providing reliable delivery, the company has maintained global customers such as the UK's Marks & Spencer, Banana Republic, and Express. And they've had some help from regional trade agreements that provide them with access to African markets.
Given China's future plans to phase into higher-skilled manufacturing industries such as electronics, the company says the next wave of competition will come from other emerging countries. Bahrain is one case in point, as it positions itself to attract American textile customers.
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