…as technical committee on textile and garment focuses on standards
Minister for Trade and Industry (MOTI), Alan Kyerematen has disclosed that government will focus on standards in the textile and garment industry, to benefit significantly from the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
He made this known at the inauguration of the reconstituted technical committee on textile and garment last Friday.
In a speech read by the Director for Multilateral, Regional and Bilateral Trade, Nyame Baafi, on his behalf, the Minister noted that “the inability of Ghana to benefit significantly from AGOA can be explained by looking briefly at one main challenge of not being able to meet applicable standards in the US market.”
“This is a challenge that can be overcome,” he said.
For this reason, Kyerematen stressed on the need to rigidly keep to applicable standards as far as the textiles and garment industry is concerned.
AGOA is expected to come to an end in 2025, after an extension of the programme by a further 10 years on the completion of the of its initial 15-years period of validity.
Figures on AGOA show that, Ghana’s apparel exports increased from approximately US$ 500,000 in 2010 to US$ 8.5 million in 2017.
This figure is expected to double again over the next two years.
Kyerematen called the attention of the committee to the variety of fibres, materials and finishes used in the production of textile articles, as well as a further look at the need for modifications in the description of care processes.
Efforts should be put towards the development of standards that would ensure safety and quality for products that come out of the industry, he stated.
The chairperson of the committee, Eunice Antiaye highlighted that the committee is considering setting standards for the Slits and Kaba, Kente, Smock, among many others.
Antiaye further stated that, the committee will also focus on standards for the size designation for men and boys garment and that of women and girls, among other proposed focus.
By Joshua W. Amlanu
