Interviews
Kenyan govt keen on creating jobs in textile sector
18 Nov '14
2 min read
The Kenyan Government is targeting the textile and clothing sector to create new job opportunities, with an aim to position Kenya as Africa’s top manufacturing and investment hub, Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said at the inauguration of Origin Africa, 2014, Africa’s leading cotton, textile, and machinery trade fair.
The President said the cotton textile and apparel sector value chain is labour-intensive, and therefore, key in addressing the unemployment and inequality challenges in Kenya.
The textile sector in Kenya is capable of creating at least 200,000 jobs in the next 24 months and the Kenyan Government plans to address the challenges affecting the sector including high energy costs and lack of market access, he said.
The Kenyan Government would also take advantage of the global market through African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the European Union (EU), and other emerging markets to aggressively develop the textiles sector, he added.
He also said that Kenyan Government is emphasising on the revitalisation of the cotton textile apparels sector and will spare no efforts in addressing the concerns the companies and the export processing zones are facing in the sector, which include cotton production, inadequate industrial space, high energy costs, and logistic challenges.
According to the President, over the last year Kenya did well as an apparel exporter and now holds the first position as sub-Saharan Africa’s largest apparel exporter to the US under African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) having exported 83 million pieces valued at US$ 336 million.
He said the Kenyan Government’s mission ‘Kenya Vision 2030’ seeks to transform Kenya into an upper-middle income economy driven by industrialization.
Africa is increasingly becoming an attractive investment destination, driven by expanding the middle income population, improved economic management, discovery of extractive resources, and a relatively young energetic workforce that can enable the continent reap the demographic dividends, he said.
The Origin Africa, 2014 event is profiled to raise the awareness of Africa as a place to do business and as a sourcing destination, change perceptions, and to make the continent more visible as a source of supply of cotton, textile products and fabrics, for international buyers. (GK)
The President said the cotton textile and apparel sector value chain is labour-intensive, and therefore, key in addressing the unemployment and inequality challenges in Kenya.
The textile sector in Kenya is capable of creating at least 200,000 jobs in the next 24 months and the Kenyan Government plans to address the challenges affecting the sector including high energy costs and lack of market access, he said.
The Kenyan Government would also take advantage of the global market through African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), the European Union (EU), and other emerging markets to aggressively develop the textiles sector, he added.
He also said that Kenyan Government is emphasising on the revitalisation of the cotton textile apparels sector and will spare no efforts in addressing the concerns the companies and the export processing zones are facing in the sector, which include cotton production, inadequate industrial space, high energy costs, and logistic challenges.
According to the President, over the last year Kenya did well as an apparel exporter and now holds the first position as sub-Saharan Africa’s largest apparel exporter to the US under African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) having exported 83 million pieces valued at US$ 336 million.
He said the Kenyan Government’s mission ‘Kenya Vision 2030’ seeks to transform Kenya into an upper-middle income economy driven by industrialization.
Africa is increasingly becoming an attractive investment destination, driven by expanding the middle income population, improved economic management, discovery of extractive resources, and a relatively young energetic workforce that can enable the continent reap the demographic dividends, he said.
The Origin Africa, 2014 event is profiled to raise the awareness of Africa as a place to do business and as a sourcing destination, change perceptions, and to make the continent more visible as a source of supply of cotton, textile products and fabrics, for international buyers. (GK)
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