The data released by the Botswana trade department recently revealed that textile exports to the US under the African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA) were in fact down by 11 per cent by November at $7.6 million (P88 million).
Earlier, the figure stood at US $9.5 million (P110 million). The reasons for the fall in exports may be accorded to issues like strong competition from China, power cuts, labour issues and reduced demand.
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Speaking on the issue, Sam Lin, Director of Carapparel Botswana, the country’s last remaining AGOA textile export company, said the textile industry was globally weak in 2015. “The market was lower than average and demand was reduced,” he added.
Lin also predicted that the situation would remain grim in 2016 as well, since the firm is struggling from labour crisis. According to Lin, many workers resigned before Christmas, while others did not return after the holidays. The firm had 600 workers prior to the holidays; but at present there are only 380 workers.
On the labour crisis, President of Botswana Textile and Clothing Association (BTCA) Mohammad Shahid Ghafoor (also the managing director of Western apparels, specialised in miltary uniforms), said, “We have been losing people. The biggest problem is securing trained people, because there’s no training institution in Botswana to teach them.”
He also emphasised on the need for possible mitigating measures that the industry will adopt after discussions with trade and industry. “They (Government) know our problems and they understand. We are positive.”
