In a bold stance to protect local industries and preserve the livelihoods of cotton farmers, Kenya’s textile sector is vehemently opposing a government proposal to allow duty-free fabric imports. This move has sparked a wave of concern among political leaders, manufacturers, and industry stakeholders who fear the detrimental impact it could have on the nation’s burgeoning textile industry.
Tunisia has announced a significant 20% wage increase for textile workers, to be distributed over the span of 2024, 2025, and 2026. This development follows an agreement signed between the IndustriALL Global Union affiliate Fédération Générale du Textile, de l'Habillement, Chaussure et Cuir (FGTHCC-UGTT) and the employers’ organization Fédération Nationale du Textile (FENATEX-UTICA).
Kenya is setting ambitious targets for its apparel exports, with a vision to achieve a remarkable $2 billion in exports to the United States and the European Union by 2030, according to Richard Cheruiyot, Chairman of the Export Processing Zone (EPZA). The East African nation, currently exporting apparel worth $544 million to these markets, aims to elevate this figure to $1 billion by 2025.
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