Textile entrepreneurs in Majalaya, Bandung Regency, are currently facing big challenges in running their business. As if they don't want to live or die, they are forced to adapt to a difficult situation due to high imports of textile materials and products from abroad at cheaper prices. Within a year from 2022, around 50% of textile and textile product entrepreneurs in Majalaya will have to close their businesses because they are unable to compete with foreign products whose prices are far below market prices. This data was revealed by the Head of Textiles and Textile Products (TPT) Majalaya, Aep Endar.

Many factories that previously produced yarn and fabric now look abandoned, with buildings and machines not operating since 2022. According to Aep Endar Cahyad, his party has been forced to stop production and sell some machines to maintain business continuity in the textile industry.

"Current conditions, many factories, including mine, have stopped production and sold some machines to overcome cash flow problems. After the Covid-19 pandemic, we sold machines to obtain capital," said Aep Endar, Friday (29/9/2023) .

Endar added that his company, which previously produced sarongs and cloth, has now shifted to the business of making mosquito nets which are sold online in an effort to survive amidst intense competition from imported materials and products.

"In an increasingly sophisticated digital era, we have to keep up with the times. Currently, we produce around 100 sets of bed nets every day. This is a step taken to survive, considering that the sarong and white cloth business is unable to compete with imported products from China," he explained.

Aep also hopes that the government will pay more attention to regulations related to e-commerce or online stores. According to him, the MSME sector must be protected, and restrictions on platforms such as TikTok and online shops must support MSMEs.

Apart from that, Aep hopes that the government can provide protection to textile entrepreneurs so that they can return to producing textile products sustainably in the future. With the right support, the textile industry in Majalaya can face the challenges of imports and maintain local production traditions.