USTR Announces Textile and Apparel DR-CAFTA Sourcing Directory
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has issued a press release on the DR-CAFTA Sourcing Directory, a new online tool that was presented at the MAGIC textile trade show on August 22, 2011. The directory is meant to build better connections between textile buyers and manufacturers in DR-CAFTA countries and attract increased sourcing of textiles and apparel to the Western Hemisphere. Note that this website currently indicates it is in beta1 form.
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The directory has registration and login and password options for members. It allows company searches for apparel manufacturers, input manufacturers, and extra regional vendors. Products that can be searched are listed as including apparel, equipment, services, etc.
Information on the website states that it was made possible through the financial and technical support of the Inter-American Development Bank, with valuable support of USTR and other DR-CAFTA governments, as well as trade associations such as NCTO, USA-ITA and the Textile and Apparel Business Council of Central America and the Dominican Republic (CECATEC).
1According to About.com, a beta test is a limited release of a product with a goal of finding bugs before the final release. Software testing is often referred to by the terms "alpha" and "beta." The alpha test is often an internal test to find bugs, and the beta test is an external test. During the alpha phase, the product is opened up to employees of the company and, sometimes, friends and family. During the beta phase, the product is opened up to a limited number of customers.
(See ITT's Online Archives or 07/29/11 news, 11072914, for earlier BP summary on this new directory.)
Directory's website is available here.