Ethiopia needs branding itself as one of the sustainable partners in textile and garment sector, Manager of Sustainable Textile Program (eTex) and International Water Stewardship Program (IWaSP), Ulrich Plein said.
In an inclusive interview with ENA, Ulrich Plein said the government of Ethiopia has made great efforts in developing textile industry, however, he stated streamlining the value chain is still a serious challenge in the sector.
He also indicated that lack of enough industrial supplies and quality raw cotton that could have been used by the factories have forced the country to import cotton from abroad.
If the nation can work through these practical hurdles, it is possible to reach the desired goal of making Ethiopia a hub of Africa’s textile and garment industries by pulling together the necessary resources and skilled manpower for viable export earnings, he noted.
Plein pointed out “ Furthermore, Ethiopia has to brand itself as one of the sustainable partners in the textile and garment sector and strive for manufacturing quality products.”
“I believe that Ethiopia has a very good opportunity to become one of the leading countries in the textile and garment sector for the future,” he added.
“We have a big program designed to engage in provide training for workers in the private sector and currently, we established two private training centers at Hawassa and Mekelle industrial parks,” he noted.
Furthermore, he said that eTex is working with local and international companies, especially with the government of German to supports local textile and garment sectors since 2005.
Currently, eTex is working to ensure local companies to fulfill environmental and social standards to have access to international markets and solicit for buyers from Germany and other countries.
Stephan Rehlen, a consultant for the textiles and garment industries said over the past ten years much progress has been witnessed in Ethiopia’s textile, garment and apparel industry.
However, more efforts should be exerted to gap mainstreaming the supply chain for textile and garment industry development in the county, he underscored.
Appreciating the government of Ethiopia for its commitment to expanding industrial parks, he said the government needs to focus on the expansion of the supply chain to realize the industrial development in the country.
The Sustainable Textile Program in Ethiopia and International Water Stewardship are being implemented in partnership with the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The German government’s program for a sustainable production of textiles and clothing is working to provide institutional support for Ethiopian companies.
The program has selected various partners and actors in the industry to help improve social and environmental standards in textile and garments factories.
Source: https://www.ena.et
