A high-ranking delegation of 15 well-known German textile machinery and accessories manufacturers visited important Ethiopian textile producers from 13th to 17th October 2014. The delegation tour was initiated by VDMA German Engineering Federation (Textile Machinery Association), supported by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and organised by SBS systems for business solutions and its local partner Agathon Consulting. The programme consisted of company visits as well as information and net working events at the office premises of German Development Cooperation Ethiopia (GIZ). The Ethiopian government has set ambitious goals for the textile and garment industry. Production, productivity and export performance of the industry should be further increased. In 2014, the export value of textile and garment sector reached 120 million USD and is expected to increase to 500 million USD in 2016. To reach these goals investments in modern technology is one decisive factor to further increase the competitiveness of the industry. In recent years, some investors e. g. from Turkey, China and India have set-up textile and garment production plants in Ethiopia by making use of the relatively low costs in terms of energy, wages and land. These incentives will help to attract further investments in the future. However, the delegation also realized the existing obstacles concerning the supply chain from cotton to the end-product, the overall infrastructure and logistics, the lack of foreign exchange to finance necessary imports of textile machinery and intermediate textile products such as yarns, regular power interruptions as well as the need to qualify more textile professionals.Despite these obstacles, the delegation had an overall positive impression about the state of the textile mills visited and on Ethiopia’s progress and willingness to stimulate the textile business. The delegates from the German textile machinery and accessory manufacturers were very much satisfied with the contacts and will continue to address the Ethiopian market by offering state-of-the-art solutions for the entire textile value chain: Machinery and accessories for spinning, knitting, weaving, hosiery, braiding, dyeing, drying, finishing and sewing. German textile machinery and accessory manufacturers are reliable and competent partners for the textile and garment industry in Ethiopia
VDMA as reliable partner for the Ethiopian textile industry
