The Thailand Textile Institute was established by virtue of a cabinet resolution of October 15, 1996, at the initiative of all textile associations in Thailand, endorsed by the Ministry of Industry. All parties involved shared the goal of forming an autonomous organization to focus the development of the potential of the Thai Textile Industry for Thailand’s sustained competitiveness in the global textile market.

          - To brainstorm ideas among the public and private sectors to formulate a five-year national textile industry development masterplan and amend this plan to suit evolving circumstances.

          - To coordinate within the private sector and between the public and private sectors to align Thailand’s textile industry development with the masterplan.

          - To follow the assigned directives under the masterplan for an operational continuity and efficiency.

          The two main objectives under the first masterplan (1997-2001) are to upgrade the entire textile industry to enable Thailand to become a quality textile manufacturing country in line with the market rather than a low-cost one, and to equip the Thai textile industry with the readiness to enter a valueadding age under the same free-trade system as in developed countries

          Here is a brief description of the major directives to be implemented by the Institute for 1997-2001

          1. Replacement of existing machinery with modern technology machinery for greater efficiency.

          2. Quality management to expedite the accreditation of the Thai textile industry by an ISO standard as early as possible through an awareness compaign for all parties involved and through cooperation with other organizations to provide technical support to textile factories, and through needed and suitable standard certification.

          3. Human resource development to upgrade the knowledge, appreciation, and competency of textile industry staff members, technical professionals, and management teams through meetings, seminars, training course, and other forms of education through collaboration with relevant organizations and agencies.

          4. Establishment of business and technical relations with foreign textile industries through relationship building, and industry news and information exchange with the Institute’s foreign counterparts.

          5. Preparation for value addition to the textile industrial system through applying the proven practices in countries with highly developed textile industries, in particular a practice called Quick Response, by preparing an information system and relevant work plans, e.g., design, management, brand name development, relying on the knowhow and past experience of foreign countries