E satablished in 1978, the ASEAN Federation of  Textile Industries (AFTEX) consists of five  national textile associations representing the five constituent member countries. These five associations are Federasi Industri Tekstil Indonesia (FITI), Malaysian Textile Manufacturers Association (MTMA), Confederations of Garments
Exporters of The Philippines Inc. (CONGEP), Textile & Garment Manufacturers' Association of Singapore (TGMAS) & National Federation of Thai Textile Industries (NFTTI). The main objectives of AFTEX are:
        a) To promote cooperation and coordination among the textile industries in the ASEAN member countries in line with the objectives of the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASEAN-CCI).
        b) To hasten the growth and progress of the textile industry in the region through joint approaches, endeavours and action.
        c) To promote closer relations and cooperation between and among the textile business communities in the member countries.
        d) To maintain close relations and cooperation with regional and international organisations with similar aims and objectives.
        e) To assist in the identification of industrial opportunities or projects that lend themselves to complementation.
        f) To formulate recommendation on incentives, tariff and other forms of protection for identified projects and commodities.
        g) To affiliate itself with the ASEAN Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
        h) To serve as the sole ASEAN body from the private sector to implement and deal with problems of ASEAN cooperation in the textile industry.