NEPC woos textile firms to $850 billion global market

THE Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) has tasked textile and apparel manufacturers to take advantage of business opportunities from the global market, which according to statistics, is expected to hit $850 billion this year.

  The Managing Director, NEPC, Olusegun  Awolowo, explained that it is imperative for the Nigerian textile industry to brace up to take a market share in the global market, noting that the opportunities in the market are huge.

  The Managing Director, who was represented by the Acting Zonal Controller, NEPC Lagos, Mrs. Evelyn Obidike, at a stakeholders’ forum of garments textile and apparel producers tagged “Harnessing the export potential of the Nigeria apparel and garment sector,” said of recent, the present administration has launched the Nigeria cotton, textiles and garment policy to boost the sector, stressing that future global market for textiles and apparel is expected to expand drastically.

  “It is going to be a challenging market, full of risks and unbelievable opportunities. Therefore it is important for the stakeholders to take cognizance of skills, competences and key trends to avoid pitfalls,” he said.

  He however expressed the council’s commitment to provide assistance for the sector to thrive and increase export as Nigeria has the comparative advantage to increase export of Nigerian textiles and apparels.

  Awolowo added that the adoption of agreement in Textiles and clothing (ATC) by World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1995 has removed quotas on textiles and clothing among WTO members which included Nigeria, stressing that it is a common knowledge that economically developed countries have imposed high tariffs and quantitative restrictions on export of textiles and clothing to their countries.

  “Despite this, developing countries such as Bangledesh, Honduras, Mexico, El Salvador, Thailand, Cambodia, Lesotho, Mauritius  and Ethiopia are increasing export of textiles to these developed countries,” he said.

  The NEPC boss explained that the forum was designed to engage in discourse that will assist both the council and the stakeholders to proffer strategies that will enhance the export of Nigerian textiles and apparel.

  He noted that the Nigerian textiles and garments industry, if given the necessary attention, will be one of the game changers for the nation’s export drive.

  “Consequently, the council’s effort had been geared towards providing direct assistance to the sector. One of such interventions was the establishment of human capital development centre in Lagos, to enhance capacity of the players in the garment industry,” he noted.

 Stakeholders at the end of the event, therefore urged the council to play a more proactive approach in identifying more opportunities for the sector, saying that there is need for the profile of the industry be raised to match international global standards.