A special conference on the problems of the textile, leather and footwear industries in the run up to Bulgaria's accession to the European Union will be held in Sliven later this month.
The conference coincides with the 170th anniversary of the first textile factory in the country, established in Sliven, southeastern Bulgaria. More than 9% of the Bulgarian workforce is employed in the light industry sector, according to statistics for the end of 2003. A total of 181,608 were employed in the textile and clothing industry, while another 19,856 worked for leather and footwear manufacturers. Light industry exports for 2003 totalled $1.45 billion which accounted for 25% of country's total exports for 2003.
