13 May 2004

Garment sector leads CNMI economy

10:48 am on 13 May 2004

New statistics show the clothing and manufacturing industries are the most important business for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

The Saipan Tribune reports that the Economic Census shows that manufacturing industries recorded the sales amounting to US$666 million in 2002, and employed the most workers.

The report revealed that the apparel industry led the manufacturing sector with sales of US$639 million and employed nearly 16,351 workers in 42 different establishments.

The sector's total sales jumped from US$147 million to US$639 million in the last five years with an additional 2,651 workers.