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Disobedient provinces delay textiles revamp

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Rebellious provinces have been blamed for the lack of progress in revamping the textile industry.

Although the Government decided six years ago to cut production by 10 million spindles, only 210,000 spindles were scrapped, the Guangming Daily reported yesterday.

Instead of selling obsolete machinery as scrap, many manufacturers sold machines to other provinces for profit or moved the equipment and continued production.

The paper said: 'To reduce 10 million spindles in six years is difficult.

'In order to protect regional interests, some cotton-producing regions have set up new cotton mills while the country is in the process of cutting cotton production capacity.' Last week, Beijing announced a fresh plan to slash cotton production capacity by 10 million spindles before 2000 and lay off 600,000 workers next year.

Officials warned that although the mainland had become a leading garment exporter, the industry was suffering huge losses and losing its competitive edge.

'If we cut capacity by 10 million spindles and lay off 600,000 workers, where should these people go?' the newspaper asked.

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