The International Trade Centre (ICT) made the announcement in a statement today.
ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and the United Nations (UN) and assists small and medium enterprises in developing economies to be more competitive globally as a way of boosting sustainable economic development.
“The strategy aims to revive the country’s cotton and textile industry, which plays a significant role in Zimbabwe’s economic growth and development.
“More than 1 million Zimbabweans, including farmers, ginner, and textile producers as well as their families depend on cotton for their livelihoods,” said ITC, which developed the strategy together with the ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The indaba will be held on September 26. The joint strategy is meant to promote the industry in eastern and southern Africa and intends to increase cotton lint production to 450, 000 tonnes per year.
It also aims to increase exports of textiles and garments to $7.5 million by 2019.
Mike Bimha, Zimbabwe’s Industry and Commerce minister, Dorothy Tembo, ITC’s deputy executive director and Sindiso Ngwenya, secretary-general of COMESA, will oversee the launch of the strategy at the Bulawayo Clothing Indaba.
The strategy is funded by the European Union (EU) under the EU-Africa partnership on cotton.
Post published in: Business