RSA's CTFL stakeholders vow to raise localised production

16 Sep '20

2 min read

Pic: Shutterstock

Stakeholders across the value-chain in South Africa’s clothing, textile, footwear and leather (CTFL) industry recently vowed to work closely to identify and execute on opportunities to deepen localisation and bolster production in the sector. They did this at a September 9 virtual meeting of the Executive Oversight Committee (EOC) managing the implementation of the masterplan for the sector.

The meeting, chaired and hosted by the minister of trade, industry and competition Ebrahim Patel and attended by other EOC members, including the chief executives of major apparel and textile retailers, manufacturers, sought to discuss plans to accelerate domestic apparel and textile production, according to a press release from the department of trade, industry and competition.

The CTFL sector has been affected by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown. Sales in the first half of the year fell by 20 per cent adjusted for inflation versus the equivalent period last year, while production volumes declined by 30 per cent.

Despite this, stakeholders expressed optimism for the remainder of the year, as they accelerate work to increase the levels of locally-made clothing sold in South African retail stores.

The Retail-CTFL masterplan, signed by stakeholders in November last year, provides a blueprint for investment and job creation through localisation in the industry.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)