VOA标准英语2013--Burma Hopes for US Return to Textile Industry

 

Burma Hopes for US Return to Textile Industry

Shaking off the dust

It is the first time Aung Win has returned to a former textile factory since U.S. sanctions forced it to close down a decade ago.

The vice¹ chairman of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturer's Association says the factory used to produce polo shirts and other knit clothing for American retail² giants such as Kmart and Walmart.

But, when U.S. orders stopped, he says more than half of Burma's 300 textile factories closed down and thousands of jobs were lost.

"The quantity that we are receiving for these last few years the order quantity is small and the style is so many. So, everyone is waiting for the U.S. order because the quantity is big," Aung Win said. "So, the factory can make more money."

Most of the remaining manufacturers switched to supplying Korean and Japanese markets.

That has kept the industry afloat, but many acknowledge Asian suppliers have looser factory labor³ standards that may not meet U.S. requirements.

Meeting U.S. standards

Park Choong Youl, owner of World Apparel company, says the return of the American market is an opportunity for all.

"If the United States lifts the sanction on Burma, then the level of the garment business will be upgraded," he explained. "I wish to receive orders from the U.S. as soon as possible. The owners of other companies also want the U.S. to lift sanctions as soon as possible so they too can work on orders for the U.S."

Garment association chairman Aung Win says reaching U.S. compliance⁴ requirements can take up to a year and can be expensive.

Costly⁵ generators⁶, to deal with frequent power cuts, and having to source materials from China puts the squeeze on smaller companies like Princess Power Manufacturing.

Princess Power Manufacturing Director Tun Tun says they want to attract U.S. investment, management, and technology but they have to first meet standards for environmental protection, welfare, and labor.

"If we can meet those criteria⁷ they will place orders. But, we are now just on the beginning of the changes. Maybe some of our factories they have already established the criteria set by the U.S., I mean U.S. investors," Tun Tun said. "Maybe some of us are not ready yet. But, we have to make changes."

Economic officer at the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon Machut Shishak, says he thinks American businesses can regain⁸ their lost ground in Burma.

"I think part of that is a desire to diversify⁹ their source of production, out of China out of Cambodia, perhaps to reduce the exposure to different sole dependence¹⁰ on particular countries, to diversify that. And, also there are some advantages here despite the challenges."

Burma's garment manufacturers say once U.S. investment arrives their main concern will be increased wage costs and competition for workers. 

1 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

2 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

3 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

4 compliance   

n.顺从；服从；附和；屈从

参考例句：

• I was surprised by his compliance with these terms.我对他竟然依从了这些条件而感到吃惊。
• She gave up the idea in compliance with his desire.她顺从他的愿望而放弃自己的主意。

5 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

6 generators   

n.发电机，发生器( generator的名词复数 )；电力公司

参考例句：

• The factory's emergency generators were used during the power cut. 工厂应急发电机在停电期间用上了。
• Power can be fed from wind generators into the electricity grid system. 电力可以从风力发电机流入输电网。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

8 regain   

vt.重新获得，收复，恢复

参考例句：

• He is making a bid to regain his World No.1 ranking.他正为重登世界排名第一位而努力。
• The government is desperate to regain credibility with the public.政府急于重新获取公众的信任。

9 diversify   

v.（使）不同，（使）变得多样化

参考例句：

• Our company is trying to diversify.我们公司正力图往多样化方面发展。
• Hills and woods diversify the landscape.山陵和树木点缀景色。

10 dependence   

n.依靠，依赖；信任，信赖；隶属

参考例句：

• Doctors keep trying to break her dependence of the drug.医生们尽力使她戒除毒瘾。
• He was freed from financial dependence on his parents.他在经济上摆脱了对父母的依赖。