'Kenya should address bottlenecks to competitiveness'

26 Oct '15

2 min read

While Kenya has made some headway in the global apparel market, there is need to focus towards addressing bottlenecks to competitiveness, says the Apparel and Textile Industry report launched by the Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development in partnership with World Bank and Kenya Association of Manufacturers.

The report was one of the three reports on Kenya's priority manufacturing sector value chain aimed at stimulating economic growth. The performance of textile-apparel, leather, and timber-furniture value chains is significant for job and wealth creation in Kenya, according to Kenyan media reports.

The launch of the reports will help realisation of Kenya's Industrial Transformation Programme and Vision 2030, cabinet secretary for Industrialisation Adan Mohamed said during the launch of the reports.

“Subsequent to the renewal of AGOA for another 10 years, the textile-apparel sector remains the country's growth engine for industrial exports. We are uniquely positioned to grow and expand this sector more than ten-fold beyond the current market share of 0.4 per cent. We intend to enter new markets and expand our product range into higher value and niche products,” he said.

“The 'Kenya Apparel and Textile Industry: Diagnosis, Strategy and Action Plan' recommends we develop Kenya's brand image as a hub for green textile and apparel production. To this end, the ministry will continue negotiating with other partner states for phasing out of imports of second hand textile and leather products,” he said in his speech.

Kenya's apparel exports to the US under AGOA grew by 17 per cent in the past four years, said World Bank Kenya country director Diarietou Gaye. “Kenya's textile and apparel sector has the potential to grow, increase its contribution to GDP, and serve as a source of gainful employment for its fast growing, young population.” (RKS)

Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India

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