It is fortunate to make clothes in Humen - deep dialogue Tan Zhiqiang, director of the economic and trade office of the People's Government of Humen Town.

On the eve of the 15th China (Humen) International Garment Fair, this reporter interviewed the director of the economic and trade office of the People's Government of Humen Township, Tan Zhiqiang, on the comprehensive energy of the Humen clothing industry, the industrial development environment, and the trade fair itself. A deep dialogue.

"The superiority of the geographical location is a double-edged sword."

China Fashion News: If you allow you to score the comprehensive energy of the Humen clothing industry, how many points will you make?

Tan Zhiqiang: Overall, I think I can score 80 points.

China Fashion News: Why is 80 points?

Tan Zhiqiang: In China, there are not many places that can make clothes. In Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Shanghai, the Pearl River Delta, and Fujian, it can be found that these areas are all coastal areas, because most fashionable things are infiltrated from the coast to the mainland.

Although we can't compare the city’s popularity with the big cities, one of our greatest strengths is that there are many clothing companies and fierce competition. The fierce competition objectively forces companies to introduce new products. There are not thousands of companies in other regions. Together, it is to experience this high intensity of pressure.

Our positioning may not be comparable to other metropolises such as Shanghai, because our clothing is dominated by mass products. On the surface, it is not so beautiful but it is solid.

In addition, another advantage of Humen lies in grasping the garment industry earlier and we have the advantage of first-mover advantage. Otherwise, as a town, Humen cannot gather so many businesses - the flock effect has attracted other companies.

China Apparel News: Humen's clothing industry, how many points can be played in the geographical location?

Tan Zhiqiang: From a geographical point of view, it must score 85 points. Humen is the most central point of the PRD. All the PRD traffic junctions are here. Humen is close to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Hong Kong, and Macau. This is why many foreign companies chose Humen for the first time.

China Fashion News: The geographical position is superior, can make the source of information fast, the matching of the industrial chain is relatively easy to obtain.

Tan Zhiqiang: Yes. But geographical advantage, from another level, is also a source of stress. The superiority of the location is a double-edged sword. Because the transportation is so convenient and so close to Guangzhou and Shenzhen, it is necessary to continuously break out of the siege of these big cities, and to avoid Guangzhou and Shenzhen in many aspects of industrial development. It is as if your family is rich next door. You are caught in the middle, and you need to spend more thought and effort.

China Fashion News: What are the advantages of Humen in terms of industry support?

Tan Zhiqiang: In China, one of the two regions with the most complete industrial support is the "Pearl River Delta," and one is the "Yangtze River Delta." In the "Pearl River Delta," within one hour, all industrial facilities can be found. The "Yangtze River Delta" is also similar. In China, no place can exceed these two places.

"Support high-end talent for high-end environment"

China Apparel News: Recently, how did Humen's apparel industry perform in the talented person?

Tan Zhiqiang: It should be said that talent is a short board for us. The high-end talent is indeed our lack of something. We have long been aware of this issue and have been working hard to change it. It is easy to introduce talents in a short time, but it is not easy to retain talents for a long time, because high-end talents also need to have corresponding cultural and environmental atmospheres.

China Fashion News: In order to provide a supporting environment for talented people, what are the new measures in Humen Town?

Tan Zhiqiang: In order to have a long-term plan, the Humen Township Government and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University have already established a partnership to establish a campus of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University in Humen to implement nationwide enrollment. Students enrolled in the school will study in Hong Kong for two years and study in Humen for two years. In July last year, the executive vice president of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University had already visited the Weiyuan Island in Humen Town. The Dongguan City Government and the Humen Town Government will also jointly invest tens of billions of dollars. It is estimated that after three years, the school can be established. A high-grade university city with international standards will be established in Humen. This will continue to input high-end talent for Humen.

China Fashion News: Why Hong Kong Institute of Technology?

Tan Zhiqiang: The industrial design of the Polytechnic Institute is famous, and this is directly related to Humen's industrial development. After graduation, the students will be familiar with the local industry environment and enterprises in Humen, and will also be willing to stay in Humen. Even if 30% of the graduates can stay, it will be a lot of wealth for Humen.

China Fashion News: To build a school, there must be a lot of funds and land.

Tan Zhiqiang: In this school, the Humen town government has spared no expense. Not only does the government have to invest a lot of money, but it also has to use a lot of land, at least a thousand acres of land. This is really a big deal for Humen, which is very expensive.

However, Humen is focusing on long-term development. He is able to cultivate a large number of high-end talents for Humen in the future, especially high-end industrial design talents. This is very important for Humen, which is also an improvement in soft power.

"15th time, both bitter and spicy."

China Fashion News: China (Humen) International Apparel Fair is already the 15th this year. What do you think about these 10 years?

Tan Zhiqiang: 15th session, both sour and bitter.

China Fashion News: Everything is difficult at the beginning. When you first started serving fairs, you must have been bitter?

Tan Zhiqiang: At the beginning, because we didn't do business and we didn't see the fair, we didn't even know what the trade fair was like. I didn't even know how to draft the invitation to the fair.

China Apparel News: At the time, there were not many clothing fairs nationwide.

Tan Zhiqiang: At the time, there were only 20 trade fairs in China. Even more than 400 booths were large. We have no previous experience to learn from. It is said that crossing stones touches the stones, but we do not even touch the stones. It can be said that the previous sessions of the fair were all trembling, sluggish, and not eating well and sleeping. On the one hand, they are afraid of failing to attract exhibitors. On the other hand, they are afraid that they will not be seen. Every day is spent in suffering.

China Fashion News: After a few sessions, things started to improve?

Tan Zhiqiang: After the first three sessions were completed, the situation had improved. We did not need to look for it. Companies started to sign up for the exhibition.

China Fashion News: What are the bigger goals for the future?

Tan Zhiqiang: There are many ideas. The service fair is just a platform. It is a platform for the development of the clothing industry in Humen. We hope that Humen will have a large number of big brands with influence in the country. This is our goal.

Without a large number of influential brands, it is impossible for a region to become fashionable. Our ultimate goal is to become a fashion land. While cultivating Humen’s local brands, they also try to attract influential brands from other regions to Humen and do a good job in Humen’s industrial atmosphere.

We hope that in the future, Humen will perform on the stage, and others will look at the audience to let everyone's attention be given to our every move.

"It is lucky to make costumes at Humen"

China Apparel News: This year, what are the new initiatives of the Humen Town Government in helping companies push brands?

Tan Zhiqiang: The town government has come up with tens of millions of dollars each year to support the company's branding. In addition, the town government also chooses different cities each year to assist the brand in expanding the market. This year we went to Zhengzhou. The government invested 10 million and nearly 100 companies participated. Next, in December, we will go to Anhui.

China Apparel News: Companies go to various places to participate in cloth exhibitions, the cost is their own burden, or the town government also gives some subsidies?

Tan Zhiqiang: When companies go out, they are free. Not only is the exhibition free, but even the decoration is free. Businesses only need to buy tickets and wear products. This is rare in other places.

China Apparel News: In Humen, the apparel industry will receive more support than other industries.

Tan Zhiqiang: The clothing industry is the biggest industry in Humen town government, and it is also the most inclined support industry. At the beginning of each year, as the government will study a special work plan and work plan, the content involved, for example, this year's clothing trend will be, where to focus on support, how much money to invest, etc., in order to reduce the operating costs of the brand.

In the financial crisis, Humen only enjoyed the government's preferential treatment for the garment industry, and reduced tax rates for the apparel industry. When the annual service fair is held, other industries such as restaurants and hotels will also provide great support.

Therefore, I think people who make clothes in Humen are very fortunate.

China Fashion News: What is the meaning of clothing to Humen?

Tan Zhiqiang: Although the apparel industry is not Humen’s largest industry, we have opened a window to Humen through the apparel industry. Just like French perfumes and clothes are certainly not the biggest industry in France, but why is it right now that perfumes and clothes are associated with France? This is mainly because France has promoted itself through this fashionable industry and has attracted the attention of the world.

If there is no clothing, the outside world's understanding of Humen is likely to remain on a smoking cannon.