Perceiving the circumstances of textile industry on the Balkans and beyond, experience exchange by experts and companies over the perspectives for swift exit from the crisis, and increase of competitiveness of the textile sector is the goal of the two-day regional textile conference on topic "Sustainable Development of Textile Industry", which opened in Skopje on Thursday.

The conference brings together experts from Serbia, Croatia, Albania, Turkey, Bulgaria, Italy, Netherlands and Macedonia.

"Export of textile products amounts to one-fifth of Macedonia's total exports, annually reaching approximately EUR 500 million. Textile companies mostly export in EU countries and therefore it is understandable that effects from the crisis are felt in our textile sector", said Economy Minister Valon Saraqini in the opening address.

According to him, the textile industry should see its future in increasing exports of finished products.

"Macedonia needs to urgently change the image of textile industry, so that it can distribute quality and branded products. This requires changes in high school and university curricula by including latest global trends", added Saraqini.