Brain drain is observed in all the countries of the world today, which till now was only a cause of worry for the developing countries. The term, as per common belief, was originated in the post-war era because of the loss of technically qualified professionals who were emigrating in large numbers from Europe to reside in North America. It has become popular since then and has been used for skilled and proficient employees who move to other countries for employment. Generally, professionals from any industry can shift to other countries for livelihood on a permanent basis or for long-term duration, thereby depriving their home country of their potentials and its benefits.

This phenomenon is still noticed the most in developing countries. Around 20 medical professionals shift to the western countries in Kenya each month. Around 50 percent of the total doctors in Ghana are currently settled in the United States (US). This is a huge loss of intellectual property to these African countries. As per studies, around 4,21,000 students from China, 1,53,300 students from India, and 1,05,300 students from Korea go abroad for studies. Only a few of them return to their native land, and the rest settle abroad, contributing to the economy of the new land. This has led the governments of emerging economies to frame stricter policies for students going to foreign countries on a study visa. The Indian government does not provide the No Obligation to Return to India (NORI) certificates to medical students going abroad.

Brain drain in the global textile industry

This phenomenon is majorly seen in medical, engineering, and other related fields. But it is also existent to a certain extent in other sectors, like the textile sector. Brain drain in the global textile industry is also a common story. However, there is a reverse phenomenon observed in this sector called the reverse brain drain! Many foreign nationals are coming to developing countries like India, China, and others in order to take up vacancies for higher positions. This is because there is a huge scope in the textile sector of these countries. Turkey, for example, attracts a large number of German nationals every year. These are professionals with technical expertise and qualifications to work in the textile industries of Turkey. Similarly, Chinese textile universities attract immense foreign students who settle down in China itself after studies.

The Bulgarian textile industry has also remained affected by the brain drain process that is taking place in the country. It has been estimated that Bulgaria lost around 20 billion in the last 20 years due to brain drain. Bulgaria, on average, has a high unemployment rate as compared to the other countries in Europe, and brain drain was but natural! The textile industry is doing everything possible to keep the brains in the country from treading away to other countries. Many clothing manufacturers are working in collaboration with foreign partners. Greece, Italy, and Germany are the most active investors in the Bulgarian textile industry.

Surveys indicate that there are almost 47,000 British citizens in Pakistan. Majority of them are Pakistani descendants, but a few are British. They understand the opportunities that they get in these developing countries, and are migrating to these countries in search of better prospects. A number of scientists migrated from all over the world to Turkey for its research related project on nanotechnology. This technology is believed to benefit the textile sector innumerably, as it helps in making functional textiles that can be used for specific industrial purposes. The European Commission has allotted funds in order to encourage the reverse brain drain process in Turkey. Many developed nations support this phenomenon.


Impacts of brain drain in the global textile industry


Developed countries of the world have research centers and highly equipped industries in the textile sector. They are able to attract textile brains from the developing countries. But owing to the small profit margin in producing and retailing textiles and textile products, entrepreneurs in developed countries do not indulge in this business, abundantly. Many times, qualified and experienced textile professionals get better opportunities in developing countries, as developing countries concentrate immensely in textiles. They shift to the emerging economies in such cases. Such reverse brain drain process is making it easy for the developing countries to make technological innovations in textile products. China, owing to such immigration, is able to produce high quality textile machines and technical textiles for the global textile industry, at present. China recorded an increase of 7.83 percent in its textile machinery exports in the first quarter of 2013. It exported textile machinery worth 540 million US dollars.


This is also true for other economies like India and Brazil that are dependent majorly on textiles. Indias textile machinery exports for the fiscal year 2011-12 were Rs. 12 billion. Indian technical textiles industry is also expected to grow by around 18 to 20 percent year on year during the period 2012 to 2017. This phenomenon is likely to establish the developing economies further in the global textile industry. Their overall economies will receive an impetus owing to such a phenomenon. Developing countries have a strong Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth mainly because of their textile industries.


As far as the brain drain to developed countries is concerned, it is prevalent making the textile industries of developing countries better. For example, many Pakistani and Bangladeshi professionals came and settled in certain districts of Northern England, where textile industries were well-developed. This helped England to achieve 24 hour production during the time after Second World War. It helped England retain its competence during those times, despite severe competition from other countries. Such brain drain helped England achieve productivity during the times of war by making best use of available resources. These brains, if remained in their native countries, may not have been able to make the most use of their skills and expertise. Brain drain is beneficial to the global textile industry, though it may have more disadvantages as compared to advantages to the native country.


Limitations in brain drain in the global textile industry


But like the other industries, brain drain is not full-fledged in the global textile industry, because the industry is largely labor intensive. Many times, textile factory owners or units do not need qualified and experienced professionals. Laborers willing to work for cheap would do just fine for their business! Skilled and professional employees are required only in certain segments of textile manufacturing and retailing. So, the problem of brain drain is limited in the global textile industry. Though it is prevalent in all parts of the world, but it is less as compared to other industries like healthcare, researching, and engineering. The problem of illegal immigration also persists in the global textile industry, but that cannot be termed brain drain in actual sense!


Despite these limitations, reports mention millions of fashion and textile students migrating to other countries in search of decent jobs. Chinese universities witness the arrival of thousands of international students into its campuses, and many of them stay back in China after securing good-paying jobs in its fashion and textile industries. Majority of the textile manufacturers all over the world carry out their manufacturing and research work in China. The brains were bound to shift there!


There have been questions by experts on ethics concerning migration to other countries. Immigration by professionals to other countries for better prospects may deprive their native countries of their talents. This is the reason some professionals do not migrate to other countries despite good opportunities available therein! But people migrating to other countries may not be considered wrong either. It is not right to judge professionals in this matter, as their needs also come into the picture. Their talents can be best utilized in the countries they are shifting to, and if migrated, they can contribute on a larger scale to the global textile industry. Opposing brain drain or migration of skilled work force to other countries is similar to opposing globalism in whole.

Brain drain from developed to developing countries is required when it comes to hiring skilled workers in textile machinery and technical textile related industries. Otherwise, brains from developing countries can serve the textile and textile products manufacturers and retailers in the developed countries. This strategy will make sure that no geographical location is deprived of resources at any point of time. It may reduce textile trade to a considerable extent, as resources may come to be manufactured easily in home countries itself! This phenomenon may not have a meaning as negative as the term may convey!



References:


1.      Wikipedia.org

2.      Aracorporation.org

3.      Studyabroad.careers360.com

4.      Dw.de

5.      Textilemachine-fangzhi-jixie.com

6.      Indiantextilemagazine.in

7.      Rgs.org

8.      Novinite.com

9.      Investbulgaria.com