By the end of its current five year Industrial Development Strategy, Ethiopia is expecting to make about US$ 1 billion from textile exports, according to an expert.
Addressing a one day symposium titled 'Textile Industry and Its Prospects in Ethiopia', Sileshi Leema, Director General of the Textile Industry Development Institute, said Ethiopian Government is paying special attention to the textile sector pursuant to the five year plan.
He added that besides Government, other textile industry stakeholders, including investors are also working hard to boost textile items exports, which are likely to fetch revenue of US$ 1 billion during the plan period.
Mr. Azemraw Berhanu, Senior Expert with the Directorate of Cotton Ginning and Spinning, said Ethiopian cotton is recognized for its quality, but is faced with challenge of malpractices stretching right from the stage of production to exports.
General Manager of Vitcon Garment, Goshu Negash, in his paper on potential challenges and opportunities in the textile sector, listed the main challenges confronting the textile industry of Ethiopia. He cited lack of technical and technological competence, financial constraints, low productivity and unavailability of sustainable and reliable markets as the factors inhibiting the growth of textile sector in the country.
Apart from representatives of local textile industry, the symposium also had overseas participants from Germany, Kenya and Sweden.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India