Kenya and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a foundation to support and promote bilateral trade and investment in the textile industry.
According to a statement issued by India ITME, a non-profit apex industry body in India, the agreement allows both countries to bring investments by showcasing their strong roots and culture in textiles and channeling investors for growth and expansion.
The partnership with India will help Kenya gain experience in order to develop a strong dominance in the spinning segment, as well as capitalize on India’s state-of-the-art machinery.
Rohit Vadhwana, Deputy High Commissioner and DPR to UNEP and UN-HABITAT, noted that India has made significant progress in developing the textile industry and expressed hope that Kenya will benefit from her collaboration with the Asian country.
“India has achieved strength in Textile industry & has developed policies and various schemes to promote both Traditional Textile craft as well as compete globally in modern clothing requirements,” he said.
He stated that Kenya can benefit from its collaboration and cooperation with the Indian textile and textile engineering sectors in order to create job opportunities for youth.
Following the agreement, Ambassador Isaiya Kabira (Director General International Conferences, Media Events, and Public Communications – Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kenya) expressed interest in leading an official Kenyan delegation to India in December 2022 to explore further bilateral synergies.
The agreement comes at a time when Kenya is attempting to improve its textile industry, which has long served as a gateway for Asian and Arabian countries.
Kenya’s textile and apparel exports increased by 5% in FY2021 compared to FY2017, while imports increased by 10%.
According to preliminary findings, Kenya has an excellent textile background with a few missing lines where its partnership with India strategy can play a significant role.
Patricia B. A Aruwa, Deputy Director – Industries Business Environment and Private Sector Development Directorate Ministry of Industrialization Trade and Enterprise Development, stated that for Kenya’s textile industry to succeed, the country must be self-sufficient.
