Mobilization to meet the challenges of profound transformations in the sector

The regional textile industry, confronted with profound changes for several decades, has been making serious efforts to adapt to the new challenges of globalization through the quest of greater competitiveness and the development of high value added products such as technical textiles (aerospace, protection, sport, medical, construction...).

The region's key economic players are aware of the importance of the social and economic stakes and the impact on our rural zones, and are mobilizing their efforts to elaborate and support actions which strengthen and give structure to the entire textile sector. These include: 

SPL "Pays d'Olmes - Montagne Noire", this pool of companies received a Datar quality label in 2000, and provides a structure for exchanges and proposal which associate companies represented by UIT SUD (Southern Union of Textile Industries) which is the project manager for this SPL network, the Technopôle textile (Créalaine, IFTH, Fortex, Forthac), the central French government and the Regional Council, local and regional economic development players: agencies and expansion committees, chambers of commerce and industry...

the framework agreement signed conjointly in 2003 by the Regional Prefet, and the President of the Regional Council  and the President of UIT SUD (see the following chapter "Strategic Orientations for 2003/2006). 

Since September 2005, an advisory board of representatives for the government, region, professional associations and social partners , has been responsible for assessing the actions of modernization and training. It is exploring ways to adapt companies to elaborate new products, particularly in the sectors of aeronautics and healthcare.