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FG partners Vietnam to revive cotton, textile industry

By Joke Falaju, Abuja
13 August 2019   |   4:00 am
The Federal Government has disclosed plans to partner with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to revive cotton production and resuscitate the moribund textile and garment industry in Nigeria.

Photo: EPA/STR

The Federal Government has disclosed plans to partner with the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to revive cotton production and resuscitate the moribund textile and garment industry in Nigeria.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Muhammed Umar, disclosed this during a stakeholders’ meeting led by President of the Nigeria-Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Oye Akinsemoyin, on the revival of Nigerian Cotton, Textile and Garment Sector.

He said the government is focused on repositioning the agricultural sector as a launching pad for rapid economic development.

He assured that Nigeria is ready to work with the Chamber to facilitate the textile business, saying: “We are ready and our farmers are ready to go back to the farm and government is ready to provide the farmers with the enabling environment and materials to enhance their production capacity.”

He added that the issue of raw materials for textile production will soon be addressed as he expressed optimism that reviving the sector will create millions of jobs for Nigerians, and will help to attain security and stability in the country.

In his presentation, Akinsemoyin, said having carefully studied the situation in the cotton industry in Nigeria, the Chamber noted the need for a shift in the government’s over-reliance on oil to enhance other sectors of the economy, especially the agricultural sector such that the textile industry, which has been comatose for so long can be revived.

He said part of the diversification plan was to promote made-in-Nigeria goods, and to encourage Nigerians to promote local products above the foreign ones.

Akinsemoyin informed the meeting on the need for Nigeria to plan to showcase made-in-Nigeria products at the19th Vietnam International Textile and Garment Industry Exhibition, scheduled to hold in Vietnam later in the year.

Director, Agricultural Business and Marketing in the Ministry, Azeez Olumuyiwa, urged stakeholders to deliberate and come up with a Nigerian position to be discussed with the Vietnamese counterpart on areas of collaboration.

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