ABOUT US

In October 2003, more than 120 companies (covering over 70% of the domestic employments and 90% of the GDP) constituted the Textile Trade Association (TTA). In the beginning of 2004, TTA submit application in the USAID project MCA (Macedonian Competitive Activities) to become a textile apparel cluster. The Textile Cluster was constituted in October 2004. The Textile Cluster Leadership Council (CLC) made the first step toward cluster sustainability with the merger of the Textile Trade Association (TTA) and the Textile Cluster,(TC). In December 2005, some 100 textile industry representatives attended a meeting at which the Apparel CLC announced the merger and presented a 2006 work plan. “Textile Trade Association” and “Textile Cluster” merged in March 2006 into a single organization, as an independent and professional trade association for the textile industry: “Textile Trade Association – Textile cluster” (TTA – Textile cluster).

Textile Trade Association – Textile cluster (TTA-TC) is a non-profit organization that represents Macedonian companies involved in any way in the textile industry. The main objective of its activities is to improve communication among cluster members in order to create favorable conditions for the development of the textile industry, as well as protection of the interests of the members within and outside the Republic, and support and promotion.

The primary goal of TTA-TC is to help Macedonian textile and garment producers improve their global presence, competitiveness and boost sales. TTA-TC represents the most significant industrial branch in the Republic of North Macedonia and provides essential information to its members, required for their future development at a national and international level. Also, TTA-TC cooperates with all relevant institutions concerning issues related to resolutions and legislation that have influence on the textile industry, such as: Industrial policies; Research and innovations; Surroundings; and Social issues. The four main activities of the cluster are: export promotion, HR development, lobbying and advocacy and project development and implementation. TTA-Textile cluster is the leading national textile association in North Macedonia working on improving companies’ competitiveness, thus registering world trends and changes in the global market, as well as adjusting the participants’ own production to such trends and changes. In this manner waste management and circular economy as global trend is covered in a part of activities of TTA-TC.

TTA-TC has 85 members (%65 of the industry by nr. of employees), the leading textile companies from North Macedonia, and couple of foreign companies as well. TTA-TC stuff consist of: cluster manager – executive director and two-office staff, which have gained high experience in project management, monitoring and reporting, working iN more than 7 EU funded projects and other international projects and domestic projects. Also, TTA-TC has President and 15 members of Board of directors. TTA-TC has 4 working groups: Human resource development (seminars and trainings), Productivity and quality (seminars and trainings), Negotiation with government institutions (lobby and advocacy) and Export promotion (match-making, market research, strategic planning).