Interviews
Chart out industrial policy to save textile sector – Experts
26 Aug '09
2 min read
The progress of a country is fully dependent on the development of its industrial sector, but unfortunately, lopsided policies initiated by previous regimes in Nigeria have led to the downfall of industry in the country.
The textile sector, for instance is facing a lot of tribulations and textile units are closing down with amazing regularity. A country which hosted nearly 200 mills at one time is now down to just 20-25 mills, most of which are down on their crutches.
The much awaited N70 billion fund is like a mirage, on which numerous discussions have taken place, since it was announced a few years ago, but nothing concrete has been done for disbursal of the same.
Experts say that the most important factor which has led to so many mills closing down is that most of the mills have outdated machinery from the 1960's on which cost of production is high and quality dismal.
Due to this, products churned out by the mills are not able to compete against imports from Asian countries. On the other hand, smuggling of textiles and apparels is also rampant, which also leads to loss of revenue in form of taxes.
The current government and particularly, the Ministry of Industry has initiated a lot of efforts to change the shape and fortune of the industrial establishment in the country and set up a committee to draft a road map to improve the economy.
The Ministry has also engaged the Chinese government to stop the inflow of fake Chinese textile and apparel goods in to the country, which is gradually killing the domestic textile and apparel sector.
The Ministry has also embarked on a “Buy Nigerian Products” mission, which it expects will turn away the consumer away from the imported products and also compel the domestic manufacturers to improve quality of their products.
Industrial experts opine that till the government does not chart out an industrial or textile policy on the lines announced by the Pakistan Government, the remaining textile mills in the country may not be able to survive for long.
The textile sector, for instance is facing a lot of tribulations and textile units are closing down with amazing regularity. A country which hosted nearly 200 mills at one time is now down to just 20-25 mills, most of which are down on their crutches.
The much awaited N70 billion fund is like a mirage, on which numerous discussions have taken place, since it was announced a few years ago, but nothing concrete has been done for disbursal of the same.
Experts say that the most important factor which has led to so many mills closing down is that most of the mills have outdated machinery from the 1960's on which cost of production is high and quality dismal.
Due to this, products churned out by the mills are not able to compete against imports from Asian countries. On the other hand, smuggling of textiles and apparels is also rampant, which also leads to loss of revenue in form of taxes.
The current government and particularly, the Ministry of Industry has initiated a lot of efforts to change the shape and fortune of the industrial establishment in the country and set up a committee to draft a road map to improve the economy.
The Ministry has also engaged the Chinese government to stop the inflow of fake Chinese textile and apparel goods in to the country, which is gradually killing the domestic textile and apparel sector.
The Ministry has also embarked on a “Buy Nigerian Products” mission, which it expects will turn away the consumer away from the imported products and also compel the domestic manufacturers to improve quality of their products.
Industrial experts opine that till the government does not chart out an industrial or textile policy on the lines announced by the Pakistan Government, the remaining textile mills in the country may not be able to survive for long.
Fibre2fashion News Desk - India
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