TAIPEI Taiwan's textile industry will invest more than 20 billion new Taiwan dollars ($576 million) in mainland China this year, in anticipation of growing sales opportunities following China's expected entry into the World Trade Organization, local media reported on Wednesday.

Growing labor costs and stricter environmental standards in Taiwan are also prompting many textile manufacturers to set up shop on the mainland, according to the *****Economic Daily News****, quoting the Taiwan Textile Federation.

Taiwan currently restricts China-bound investments, though many business groups have been pressuring the government to ease its policy, hoping to move production lines across the Taiwan Strait and take advantage of lower costs there, DPA reported.