Apart from Ethiopia, Tanzania is yet another East African country that has attracted a large number of foreign investors for its textile industry, which certainly goes to indicate towards good prospects for the country’s industrialisation drive.
Textile Development Unit’s (TDU) Investment Promotion Director Tim Armstrong maintained that there has been an influx of foreign investors and retailers in the country. “There are good prospects for the country’s textile and garment sub-sector,” Armstrong reportedly told a local daily, indicating towards the possibility of more investment coming in the country’s way.
The Tanzania Gatsby Trust-funded TDU is a specialist unit within the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment whose objective is to stimulate the textile and apparel industry.
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With expertise in technology, management and marketing, TDU, which was formed in 2012, was set up to facilitate supplier relationships, build training capabilities and ensure friendly policies for investors. TDU has so far already helped the formation of the Textile and Garment Manufacturers Association of Tanzania (TEGAMAT) to represent the interests of the industry.
Owing to Tanzania’s massive cotton production capacity, there is significant potential for the textile and garment industry to flourish in this country. The country can boast of bumper cotton harvests, with expertise and infrastructure to sustain the spinning, weaving and manufacturing elements of the value chain. This natural fibre is mostly grown in the Western Cotton Growing Area of Mwanza, Mara, Chato, Simiyu and Geita regions.
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The government is working closely with TEGAMAT and TDU to improve the regulatory environment, incentives for investors, quality of inputs and upgrading of the industry.
