Ministry accelerates revamp of the Textile sector in drive to create jobs

The Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development has initiated plans to revamp the labor intensive textile sector.

Speaking at the Export Processing Zones (EPZ) Complex in Athi River, Industrialization & Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed disclosed that the Ministry is addressing challenges affecting the textile and clothing industry in the country by spearheading a raft of new measures aimed at boosting local textile production and attracting investments in the sector. Mr. Mohamed reiterated: ‘the sector has potential to create close to 700,000 jobs in the next 3 years and we must take advantage of the global market through AGOA to aggressively grow the sector.’

He disclosed that the Ministry is closely working with the Agriculture Ministry to ensure cotton growing is facilitated as a critical raw material for the sector
as well as to ensure that the entire cotton value chain is addressed. The
drive to create jobs will be critical and among the raft of measures to be
fast-tracked include enforcing the Buy Kenya policy within Government, as well as reducing the cost of doing business in the sector that will be good news to farmers, entrepreneurs and the youth that are seeking jobs.

The Cabinet Secretary also met with over 20 investors in the EPZ and visited
several companies in the facility. He was accompanied by his Principal Secretary Dr. Wilson Songa, the Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mathenge Wanderi and  Cyrille Nabutola respectively.