Focus grows on SMEs in textiles

SEVEN local entrepreneurs involved in garment manufacturing, who recently went on a fact-finding tour to South Africa, described the experience as an eye-opener.

The tour was organised for small to medium businesses by SMEs Compete, for the small businesses to visit South Africa’s heartland of the textile industry, which is the Western Cape province. Two participants, Clara Baitsewe and Rachel Kaiyamo, who own garment-producing small firms, said they had learnt a great deal about garment production during the tour, adding that it was a worthwhile exercise.According to the leader of the delegation, Colin Gaochab, the trip enabled the local entrepreneurs to learn new planning and production methods and also quality improvement skills.”It (the observational tour) served to expose the small firms and helped them network with the South African enterprises in the textile industry,” said Gaochab.The seven who participated were drawn from Windhoek, Oshakati, Ondangwa, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.SMEs Compete says is serious about its support for the apparel and textile sector and to enhance the ability of SMEs in the textiles industry, a quality and production enhancement workshop started in Ongwediva yesterday.The organisation, formed in 2002 in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said its focus on this particular sector would run until February next year, where much effort will be directed towards the upliftment of SMEs in the textile industry.Two participants, Clara Baitsewe and Rachel Kaiyamo, who own garment-producing small firms, said they had learnt a great deal about garment production during the tour, adding that it was a worthwhile exercise.According to the leader of the delegation, Colin Gaochab, the trip enabled the local entrepreneurs to learn new planning and production methods and also quality improvement skills.”It (the observational tour) served to expose the small firms and helped them network with the South African enterprises in the textile industry,” said Gaochab.The seven who participated were drawn from Windhoek, Oshakati, Ondangwa, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay.SMEs Compete says is serious about its support for the apparel and textile sector and to enhance the ability of SMEs in the textiles industry, a quality and production enhancement workshop started in Ongwediva yesterday.The organisation, formed in 2002 in partnership with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said its focus on this particular sector would run until February next year, where much effort will be directed towards the upliftment of SMEs in the textile industry.