Despite the African textile industry's potential to reduce escalating unemployment levels, poverty levels, boost economic power, influence of various African nations and the entire continent at large on the global market, the industry has undergone through several setbacks in the past centuries ranging from political influence, stiff competition, low technology, inadequate technical human resource and inadequate market among others however various strategic measures have been taken to revive the industry to its full capacity majorly focusing on value-added operations, infrastructure development, democratic governance among others. Countries which have embraced these new changes include Lesotho, South Africa, and Kenya and this has greatly improved their economies in terms of revenue generations, job creation, increase in GDP, and increased Foreign Direct investments.

The textile and clothing industry is currently ranked amongst the fast growing economic sectors globally according to the World Bank statistics with Asia ranked the first worldwide in terms of market share. In reference to the statistical market research data presented by the Market Line, the world clothing and textile industry generated over $2,560 trillion in 2010. A projection of about $3,180 billion in 2015 is expected to be generated which is about 55% of the entire composition of the market share by the apparel, extravagant goods and accoutrements fetching a 4% annual growth rate in excess. It's an industry which accommodates all categories of man power that is skilled, semi-skilled and the unskilled along the production line right away from the raw materials to the final products.

The above statistics illustrate a huge growth opportunity for the textile and clothing industry current and future-and why the global textile market is favourably looking at U.S. with a large market space and favourable textile trade policies especially for the African continent through the AGOA Act 2000. The foundation for this growth mainly rests on the strong economic indicators, attractive growth potential going forward and the fact that the African continent is now the number one destination for business prospects.

A glance at the current market segments worldwide presented by various researchers for example, according to the global industry analysts report, the world children wear market is estimated to hit almost $57 billion by 2015. World over, men and women wear market is also expected to surpass $402 billion and $186 billion respectively in 2014 due to technological advancement, rapid desire of unique fashion designs and brands, generational behavioural changes especially among the youth. Thus a projected 14%-15% increase in the next five years of the market earnings. This steers confidence in the textile industry investors.

Based on these market findings and future development signals possessed by the textile and clothing industry, it can improve the African continent's global trade influence on the world market. As a means to boost the economic power of the African continent, the U.S. congress signed the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) through the US Trade and Development Act of 2000 into law on May 18, 2000, and since its enactment, continuous tangible results and tremendous success have been achieved till the present by the eligible members such as Kenya, Malawi, Lesotho, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Zimbabwe, and Gambia among others.

Through AGOA, US opened up its market for African products, textiles taking the lion's share where it offers sub-Saharan exporters of apparel to the U.S. market a duty-free access which is a great leverage over non-eligible members such as Asian countries thus, reducing cost of production which gives the U.S market a better option for African textile products such as infants wear, grey fabrics, spun cotton yarn, wool, ginned cotton etc. These products have the most potential for competitive production in Sub-Saharan African countries either for direct export, or for use in downstream production of apparel for export to the United States than other continental market like Asia, and Europe among others. Furthermore, traditional articles such as drums, backcloths, mats, baskets and other handcrafted materials plus about 1835 non textile merchandise which were not included in the Act are offered duty free access to the U.S. market thus a lucrative option for the Africa in general.


Due to the strong partnership and relations, the U.S government has established with the African continent in the past years, it has boosted trade though which the African textile industry has benefited in various ways. This can be reflected in the increased demand levels of African textile products in the U.S market more especially by medium, small and large U.S retail firms which give Africa a lucrative ground for its products. Africa exports a variety of products to the U.S market especially garments and home products that can be produced both on a large and small scale. Thus, providing a structural adjustment competitive edge over its competitors and accommodating more entrants to supply the high level demands.


In reference to the prevailing trend changes within the global market caused by various aspects such as political policies, social factors, competition, economic changes etc. have greatly influenced a number of industries including the textile industry. With the steady changing retailing system and demographics within the U.S textile and clothing industry fires an alarm for the African textile exporters especially in the garment production where many U.S textile retail firms are searching for low priced products but of high quality in order to compete favourably. This puts Africa ahead of other suppliers with a competitive advantage due to the duty-free access of exports to the large US market, which allows them to continue reaping trade benefits from the opportunities in the American textile market.


The route taken by many African countries to advance in their economies through policy reforms, structural adjustments such as employing appropriate technology, sensitization, government partnerships, inter-continental trade agreements, value chain addition, infrastructure development has greatly attracted a lot of Foreign Direct Investments in the last 5 years giving the textile industry a bonus since it has been put under targets by investors as a lucrative sector due to low costs of production, cheap labour, adequate raw materials and so on .


This progress give textile players from the African continent a firm ground to overcome its bottlenecks that have been hindering the sector's progress and to compete favourably with other players especially Asian countries, China in particular which has become a global threat in the textile industry. Assessing the impact of AGOA Act 2000, on the African soil, really gives a strong stand to rally support from all eligible Sub Sahara African countries to call for its extension beyond its expiry date of September 30, 2015 for the positive fruits it has yielded especially in reviving the textile sectors of many African economies more especially the South East Africa in nations like Lesotho, South Africa, Ghana among others.


It appears that the 14 years AGOA Act is expected to be extended. This can be backed by the evidence of events that has happened in the past. Moreover, the fight between the two super powers - China and U.S over their influence on Africa, the call by U.S fashion association to extend the partnership, the need by many non-textile companies to maintain their businesses especially the transportation and communication industries, regional agreements, protection of continuous Foreign Direct Investments which stem from the existence of the Act among others. The extension of the Act gives more life and hope to the African textile exporters, thus enhancing economic development, job creation, fight against poverty, global market influence, etc. which have been Africa's supreme challenges.


About the author:


Samuel Tulinabo is a textile engineer in Uganda.