Textiles & Garment Industries Seek Government Support To Enjoy Opportunity Provided By AGOA

Addis Ababa, March 21, 2002 (WIC): The Textile, Leather and Garment Federation has called for the support of the government in improving the production capacity of the textile sector so as to be able to take advantage of the U.S African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA).

Federation Vice President, Teshome Tolossa told WIC today that the government should refurbish the existing textile and garment factories with new machineries in order to supply quality product to the American market.

He said the move to give on contractual bases the management of some of the country’s textile factories should also be extended to garment and leather industries so as to secure more access to external market.

He said the Federation was closely working with the government on how best the country could benefit from the opportunity provided by AGOA.

Meanwhile President of Confederation of Ethiopian Trade Union (CETU), Amare Alemayehu said the government has set up an industry fund with the view to augmenting the production capacity of mainly the textile sector.

He also said the governments of China and Italy have allocated US$ 15 million and 8 million respectively to upgrade the performance of the country’s textile and leather industries.

There are 44 factories organized under the Textile, Leather and Garment Federation, it was learnt.

About EATIC
The Ethio-American Trade & Investment Council (EATIC - www.eatic.org) is a non-profit, non-partisan, tax exempt membership organization of corporations and individuals dedicated to strengthening and facilitating trade and investment between Ethiopia and the United States of America. The Council believes that it can best accomplish this goal through education, focusing on broadening the respective knowledge of various social customs, cultural traditions and economic climate of both countries.

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