Tonderai Katswara
30 April 2008
Windhoek — A REGIONAL grouping of textile industry workers and manufacturers has expressed regret over the demise of Ramatex, the job losses it caused and the negative impact on the local economy.
Namibia Manufacturers Association (NMA) Chief Executive Officer Hennie Fourie said this was one of the issues of debate at the first annual general meeting of the African Cotton & Textile Industries Federation (ACTIF) held in Pretoria, South Africa, on Friday.
During the discussion of country reports, Fourie said members expressed their concern about the closing of the Ramatex factory in Windhoek and the resultant loss of jobs for approximately 3 000 textile workers.
"It was of the opinion that attempts should be made to find a reliable organisation to take over the infrastructure and qualified workforce," said Fourie.
ACTIF offered to assist in this process, he added.
Ramatex abruptly shut its doors in Windhoek at the beginning of March, after some six years in operation, leaving workers stranded and the public with more questions than answers.
Stakeholders such as the Government and the Windhoek Municipality are in consultations on how to handle the closure and its impact, with a view to minimising the impact of the sudden shutdown.
The ACTIF meeting was attended by the associations of textile industries or manufacturers' associations of 17 southern and East African countries.
ACTIF was established following the completion of regional value chain studies that culminated in the first regional summit on cotton and textile industries in 2006.
Fourie said individual countries recognised the fact that they could no longer act in isolation or remain fragmented in the face of current and future challenges to this industry.
"There was, therefore, an urgent need to forge regional collaboration and integration which would in turn lead to market discovery, increased business linkages, trade and investment," said Fourie.
ACTIF has developed a website, www.cottonafrica.com, to facilitate trade and trade linkages within this sector.
A strategic plan for promoting and developing the textile industry in Africa was also discussed at the meeting.
Members agreed on the following mission for ACTIF: "To promote trade and increase access for the cotton, textile and apparel industry in Africa."
The vision is: "An integrated cotton and apparel industry that effectively competes on the world market."
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