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Fiji’s ailing textile, clothing and footwear sector aims to boost exports by $150 million and employment figures to 6000 through a marketing plan underpinned by a $300,000 government grant.
The grant comes as the industry announced the loss of more than 1000 jobs and a 25 percent drop in exports last year.
The Textile, Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Council of Fiji has signed a memorandum with the Ministry of Industry and Trade following the announcement of the marketing grant by the Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at the “Make It in Fiji” marketing campaign in October.
TCF president Kalpesh Solanki said the grant will give the TCF sector a better chance of getting more orders over the next three years in tough export markets.
“This memorandum of agreement is a milestone commitment made by the Fiji government to support the implementation of the three year marketing plan of Fiji’s TCF industry in its export markets,” Solanki said.
He said the move was a practical implementation of Public Private Partnership under the National Export Strategy which seeks to significantly increase awareness of Fiji’s TCF industry capabilities in its primary export markets Australia, New Zealand and also to establish a solid platform to develop new export markets.
“Under the banner of Make It in Fiji, the aim is to increase total annual TCF export over FJ$150 million and to employ over 6000 people in the industry within the next three years.”
He said the TCF sector plays an important role in poverty alleviation.
The industry employs more than 4000 people, of whom 80 percent are women.
