Small players in garment industry to learn from SA counterparts

SEVEN selected small and medium entrepreneurs from the apparel and textile sector are in South Africa for a four-day fact-find and observational tour.

The trip to the Western Cape Province, heartland of South Africa’s textile sector, was arranged by SMEs Compete as part of its ongoing support to small Namibian-owned firms. The group was selected from 10 SMEs that participated in a workshop in Walvis Bay last year.The entrepreneurs who went on the trip – all women – are the owners of Rudro Clothing (Swakopmund), Aletta’s Sewing Centre (Walvis Bay), Dune Textiles (Walvis Bay), Pena Manufacturers (Oshakati), Annely Fashion & Design (Ondangwa), Uniform for Africa (Windhoek), and Rachel Creations (Windhoek).Abelene Boer of SMEs Compete says the participation of smaller firms in local garment manufacturing is growing.”Support to the sector over this year by SMEs Compete identified further capacity-building needs, including the need for exposure to the SA textile sector,” said Boer.She said the visit would expose the firms to South African garment manufacturers to observe and learn new planning, quality improvement and general operational methods.The group will also meet suppliers of new and pre-used equipment and producers of accessories and trimmings.One-on-one meetings will also be held with a broker who sources garments on a cut-make-and-trim basis for retail chains.SMEs Compete is a USAID-funded programme run in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which provides business services to Namibian-owned small and medium enterprises.The group was selected from 10 SMEs that participated in a workshop in Walvis Bay last year.The entrepreneurs who went on the trip – all women – are the owners of Rudro Clothing (Swakopmund), Aletta’s Sewing Centre (Walvis Bay), Dune Textiles (Walvis Bay), Pena Manufacturers (Oshakati), Annely Fashion & Design (Ondangwa), Uniform for Africa (Windhoek), and Rachel Creations (Windhoek). Abelene Boer of SMEs Compete says the participation of smaller firms in local garment manufacturing is growing.”Support to the sector over this year by SMEs Compete identified further capacity-building needs, including the need for exposure to the SA textile sector,” said Boer.She said the visit would expose the firms to South African garment manufacturers to observe and learn new planning, quality improvement and general operational methods.The group will also meet suppliers of new and pre-used equipment and producers of accessories and trimmings.One-on-one meetings will also be held with a broker who sources garments on a cut-make-and-trim basis for retail chains.SMEs Compete is a USAID-funded programme run in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which provides business services to Namibian-owned small and medium enterprises.