Press releases

Madagascar’s textile and clothing sector eyes export boost from United Kingdom Trade Partnerships Programme support

5 February 2020
ITC News

Fourteen Malagasy companies to receive individualised capacity building, and four selected institutions to benefit from institutional assessments.

(Geneva) – Madagascar’s textile and clothing sector stands to benefit from better skills, knowledge and exports following the launch of a new capacity-building project on Wednesday 29 January. The UKTP Madagascar “Increasing the export competitiveness of the textile and clothing industry” will be implemented by the International Trade Centre.

The main focus of the project will be to improve competitiveness of Malagasy exporters and generate more sales. To that end, UKTP has selected fourteen companies and their partners to receive individualised support to make their operations more competitive, improve their social and environmental sustainability and connect to buyers.

UKTP will also improve the eco-system around the companies by providing assistance to four support institutions, led by the Groupement des Entreprises Franches et Partenaires (GEFP). The Groupement des Entreprises de Madagascar (GEM); Groupement des Femmes Entrepreneurs de Madagascar (GFEM) and the Economic Development Board of Madagascar (EDBM) will also benefit.

The project will create at least 650 new jobs and $4 million of additional exports.
Dorothy Tembo, ITC’s acting Executive Director said ‘At ITC we are excited to launch of the project ‘Increasing the export competitiveness of the textile and clothing industry’. I am confident that the project will strengthen the export competitiveness of Madagascar’s textile and clothing sector, create additional export and boost job creation.’

Philip Boyle, the United Kingdom’s ambassador to Madagascar said: “The textile sector is a top priority for the UK in Madagascar. It stands high in terms of volume of exports to the European Union and the UK, revenue generation employment creation especially among youth and women and possibility of integrating the regional value chain with Mauritius.”

‘The textile and clothing sector is among the five main priority sectors identified by the government,’ said Lantosoa Rakotomalala Minister of Ministry of Industry, Trade and Handicraft. ‘Investing in the sector represents an excellent opportunity to provide for our youth population the chance to have their first job in the formal employment’.

To ensure the successful implementation of the project, ITC will be working closely with GEFP, which counts 49 member enterprises in the textile and clothing sector. Commenting on the project, Hery Lanto Rakotoarisoa, chairman of GEFP said: ‘It is an honour for us to be a partner in the project, helping to strengthen our textile and clothing sector. We are ready to support the development of the project, ensuring the sector will have a sustainable impact.’

UKTP Madagascar will focus on the textiles and clothing (T&C) sector. The sector is one of the five industries being given priority by the new government for export development as it ranks as the second biggest exporter to the European Union and the most important share exported to the United Kingdom.

Malagasy clothing exports have grown from $60 million in 1995 to $586 million in 2018. It represents about 75% of manufacturing exports, 20% of total exports, and 5% of GDP. In addition, the clothing sector is the largest provider of formal employment and the second largest provider of foreign currency in the country.

Notes for the Editor:

Project launch date: 29 January 2020
Time: 14:00 to 16:30
Where: EPSILON Company - Route de Majunga, PK 12, Amborompotsy, RN 4, Tananarive 105, Madagascar

About ITC - The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. Established in 1964, the International Trade Centre (ITC) is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.

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Contact details
Jarle Hetland, Public Information Officer
P: + 41 22 730 0145
E: hetland [at] intracen.org (hetland[at]intracen[dot]org)

Waqas Rafique, Public Information Officer
P: + 41 22 730 07 38
E: wrafique [at] intracen.org (wrafique[at]intracen[dot]org)

Mariana Alves Tavares, Communication for the Fibres, Textiles and Clothing
P: + 41 22 730 09 04
E: malves [at] intracen.org (malves[at]intracen[dot]org)