Apparel Online India Magazine April 2nd Issue 2018 | Page 50

BEYOND INDIA Turkish-Algerian textile unit commences pilot production The month-long pilot production at Turkish-Algerian joint venture for an integrated textile complex has commenced. This was confirmed by the Algerian Ministry of Industry and Mines in a statement. The textile factory has been constructed in the Sidi Khattab industrial park in Algeria’s Relizane Province. The working system in the textile factory will gradually progress to 3 teams. Each team will work for 8 hours every day at a production rate of either 20 tonnes for each team or 60 tonnes in a day. The first stage of the project will comprise eight textile production units that will produce different varieties of textiles. Additionally, it will include a textile school that will train 400 people. The factory is expected to give jobs to 10,000 people in the first phase. Reportedly, Phase 2 will cover 10 factories where denim, ready- made apparels and industrial fibres will be manufactured in addition to making woven and knit fabrics. In the joint venture, Tayal has a stake of 51% wherein Algerian public firms Apparel and Clothing owns 30% stake and Texalg has a stake of 21%. The Turkish firm, Intertay holds the remaining share of 49%. Notably, Intertay is a subsidiary of Taypa, the renowned Turkish Group. According to the Ministry, while 60% of production will be used for export market, 40% will cater to local needs. Ethiopia sees 23.1% boom in exports Ethiopia, one of the emerging apparel sourcing destinations in the world, has posted a 23.1 per cent surge in its global textile and clothing (T&C) exports during the first eight months of FY 2017-18 that began on 8th July 2017. The country has exported T&C worth US $ 68.5 million during the said period. The surge in exports is in line with the vision of Ethiopian Government which, a few months back set ‘US $ 30 billion by 2025’ as export target for the textile industry. Markedly, US $ 55.9 million revenue was secured by the foreign-owned firms while the remaining was generated by the local apparel manufacturing companies. 50 Apparel Online India | APRIL 16-30, 2018 | www.apparelresources.com However, the hub fell short of the targeted growth by 50 per cent as stated by Bantihun Gessesse, who is Communications Affairs Director in Ethiopian Textile Industry Development Institute. “Inadequate supply of inputs, lack of managerial and technical professionals, failure to meet international standards and the shortage of skilled manpower were the major factors the exports of textile and clothing did not meet the projected growth,” said Gessesse. In order to meet the projected growth in the coming months, the Ethiopian Government is diversifying exports from agricultural products to textile and clothing manufacturing in the country and, for this, approximately 10 industrial parks have been planned. It’s pertinent to mention here that the textile and clothing industry in Ethiopia has noted an average growth of 51 per cent over the last 5 years and more than 65 international textile investment projects have been authorised and licensed to attract FDI during the period. The country is steadily becoming a favourite amongst various leading textile and apparel manufacturers to set up their base there, thanks to policies and incentives that the country has to offer.