UNIDO helps Tajik textile enterprises manufacture PPE

21 Apr '20

3 min read

Pic: UNIDO

Two Tajik enterprises, and Suman, have expanded their product range to include medical masks and gowns, and have received assistance from the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), which early this month organised training classes on sewing, cutting and use of locally-available textiles to help the two firms meet quality requirements.

Both the enterprises are partners with UNIDO in an existing project to modernise and improve the competitiveness of country’s carpet weaving, embroidery and textile sectors. A second phase of the project, which is funded by Russia and implemented in conjunction with the Tajik ministry of industry and new technologies, began in 2018.

As of 14 April, Tajikistan had not announced the confirmation of any COVID-19 cases. Over recent months, the authorities have taken drastic measures to help keep the coronavirus at bay. The border with China has been closed since 24 January and entry from Iran was halted on 23 February. All commercial flights were suspended on 20 March and traffic to and from Kyrgyzstan was suspended on 24 March. Schools, however, are still open and people are going to work as normal.

“We have already adjusted logistics and can receive sufficient raw material supplies. For now, the most important thing is to prepare specialists who could start working immediately after training. Unfortunately, the company is not able to establish the training process on its own, so we are grateful to the UNIDO experts for their help,” a UNIDO press release quoted Shahlo Vatanova, director of Guldaston, as saying.

A fabric supply contract has recently been signed between Guldaston and the Nohid company, which specialises in the production of fabric from cotton grown by farmers who are part of the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). This initiative helps farmers to grow cotton in a way that reduces stress on the local environment and improves the livelihoods and welfare of farming communities.

Vatanova said Guldaston is now waiting for special permission to produce sterile medical masks from the ministry of health and social protection, which will allow the enterprise to officially set up a specialised production line.

Sarvinoz Junaydova, national technical coordinator of the UNIDO project in the country, said, “Our beneficiaries are now capable of producing between as many as 20,000 masks a day, but this is not enough to meet the frenzied demand. Of course, we are pleased to see that the beneficiaries of our project are quickly adapting to the new circumstances and challenges, aligning their production with the public health protection measures.”

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

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