EIPA, FAR EAST TEXTILES’ EMPOWERMENT FOR EMASWATI

MBABANE – Eswatini Investment Promotion Authority (EIPA) and Far East Textiles are urging more emaSwati to increase their participation in the textile industry.

Based in Matsapha, Far East Textiles is one of the biggest textile firms in the country and it is managed by Business Women of Eswatini (BWE) Chairperson Tokky Hou. The two organisations yesterday hosted interested parties at a factory visit where all present were taken through the factory production line and given pointers on how to open and run financially viable textile businesses in Eswatini.

 Dr.Khanyisile Dlamini, who is EIPA Senior Executive Manager –Investment Promotion, used the opportunity to reflect on the mandate of EIPA in Eswatini.

 “EIPA’s mission is to promote and facilitate local and foreign direct investment and trade in Eswatini. 

Encouraging emaSwati to seek opportunities in the textile industry supports not only to the local economy, but will also open up further opportunities for the export of the textiles produced in the country. 

“This will help our economy steer its focus to being export-driven and private sector-led as has been highlighted in the Post COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan released by government,” she said.

Tokky Hou, who is Managing Director at Far East Textiles, gave an overview of the recent developments in the textile industry and how the participation of emaSwati would add to its growth. 

“There has been an increase in Cut Make Trim (CMT) orders which has resulted in producers not being able to satisfy the delivery of orders in line with market demand. 

Eswatini has a number of advantages in setting up textile operations within our borders. Firstly, the labour market is favourable with much currently seeking employment, trainable and willing to work. 

“There are also good conditions for export as Eswatini is efficient in trade facilitation and is ranked number one in Africa in trading across borders in the 2019 World Bank Ease of Doing Business Index. 

‘‘All this is complemented by bilateral trade agreements, which allow for our products to be accepted in various markets at an advantage,” said Hou.

Due to COVID-19, there is demand for textile manufacturers to produce more garments especially for the health sector. 

rejuvenating

Manufacturing will become a key activity over the next months in rejuvenating Eswatini’s economy while creating jobs through entrepreneurship and the expansion of various industries. 

SADC alone, currently has a population of roughly 277 million people while also offering Eswatini a free trade area with preferential market access. 

This is one example of opportunities which exist to encourage export and trade in the kingdom

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