TEXTILE giant, David Whitehead Textiles Limited (DWTL), was last week plunged into chaos after its 1 700 strong workforce went on strike to press for salary increments, The Financial Gazette has heard.

ZIMBABWE clothing industry has been hit by a shortage of fabrics resulting in the shrinking of jobs in the sector, players in the industry have said.

Eveready East Africa Limited has registered a massive reduction in its pre-tax profits for the first six months upto March 31st.

COTTON ginners have asked the Government to establish a fully-fledged tertiary training institute in textile and clothing technology. "This shall gradually resolve the problem of lack of trained textile technicians and engineers to fast-track the process of creating more jobs," said Richard Mubiru, the secretary general of the Textiles Manufactures Association of Uganda.

The local arm of Indian conglomerate Tata, Tata Africa, will set up a vehicle manufacturing plant in East Africa.

MINISTER of State for Commerce and Industry, Ahmed Garba Bichi, and the Director-General, National Agency for Food and Drugs Control (NAFDAC) Prof Dora Akunyili, have commended Sosaco Nigeria Limited, for diversifying from buying and selling into manufacturing.

Mumias Sugar Company is today expected to sign a power generation deal with Kenya Power and Lighting Company as the sugar miller seeks additional income streams.

A delegation from Thailand, comprising of officials from Government and the Thai Gem and Jewelry Trades Association (TGJTA), is expected to visit Namibia next month to explore the possibility of buying Namibian diamonds directly from here.

I read with disappointment an article on the closure of Lira Spinning Mills in The New Vision of March 28, 2008. The milling factory was sold to Jinda International Textiles Corporation (JITCO), a Chinese firm, which was expected to bring in new technology and create 500 jobs, besides increasing the value and amount of textile exports.

ONE of the leading packaging material manufacturers has laid off 200 workers due to a fall in production to 20%, a top official has said. Gideon Bagadawa, the Uganda Manufacturers Association chief, who declined to name the company, attributed the lay-off to imported polythene bags and other packaging materials from Kenya.

THE construction of a US$ 120 million state of the art glass manufacturing plant in the city of Kadoma is being hampered by a critical shortage of water and the current power cuts.

The Government is acting on proposals by a task force to return Pan Paper Mills to profitability.

A battery manufacturing factory in Nairobi's industrial area, Associated Battery Manufacturers, regularly sends blood samples of its workers to Britain for analysis, just in case they have lead poisoning in their blood.

Paper manufacturer, Pan African Paper Mills is seeking a cash injection of Sh325 million and conversion of shareholder debts totalling Sh752 million into equity, to stay afloat.

The world's renowned city of diamonds, Kimberley, is to open a factory worth R100 million to manufacture gold jewellery.

Farmers are threatening war against cement-manufacturing firms in Onigbedu, Ogun State for alleged illegal occupation of their land. They say the companies are exposing them to environmental and health hazards. Recently, the community petitioned Ogun State House of Assembly for intervention before the crisis degenerates like the Niger Delta situation.

THE Ramatex textile company and its main subsidiary in Namibia were declared bankrupt by the High Court yesterday.

MANUFACTURING output fell unexpectedly in March, contracting 1,1% versus the same month last year and reviving fears of a recession in the economy's second-biggest sector, official figures showed yesterday.

TURNALL Holdings, a fibre cement manufacturing concern, has hiked prices for its products by more than 700 percent, a move likely to deepen the cost crisis faced by the construction industry.

BISCUITS manufacturer, Charhons Limited has intensified the diversification of its products range as it moves to capture segments of the luxury foods market that could relieve the business from the strain associated with biscuits making.

Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has asked the Federal Government to check the indiscriminate importation of E-10 fuel grade ethanol into the country, by channeling its procurement via local ethanol manufacturers, instead of direct importation from Brazil.

The best way for weavers and apparel makers to benefit from the African Growth and Opportunities Act initiative is by working together.

The Government has announced a rescue package for troubled PanPaper Mills after a report by audit firm, PriceWaterHouseCoopers, revealed the company was insolvent.

Battling an array of cheap imports mainly from China and high zinc prices, battery maker Eveready East Africa Limited has had to shut down three production lines and shed 40 workers from its payroll in the past month, signalling reduced manufacturing business for the Nakuru-based firm.

Uganda's dairy sector is expected to pick up considerable momentum from Tuesday's launch of Uganda's first $15 million powdered-milk manufacturing plant by Kenya's Sameer Agriculture and Livestock Limited.