National
Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) in partnership with SPINnet Textile
and Garment Cluster has launched an incubator programme to nurture and train
entrepreneurs in the garment and textile sector.The incubator programme
seeks to promote networking among the industry players and to mobilise more
resources for the benefit of the garment industry.It also aims to train
potential entrepreneurs in industry compliance standards, support businesses
through mentorship, networking business development, financial support, access
to markets and advisory services.
Launching the programme, Mr Robert Ahomka Lindsey, the Deputy Minister of Trade
and Industry, said the incubator has helped to bridge the skills gap in the
garment and textile industry as well as enhance revenue growth in the export sector.The
programme is targeted at the youth, polytechnic and university graduates as
well as national service personnel to promote proficiency in the market driven
skills in the textile and garment production value chain.Mr Lindsey said the
programme is to nurture entrepreneurs in the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises
sector (MSMEs) through occupational skills development and promote
entrepreneurship and business development services to existing MSMEs and
start-ups operating in the textile industry.
Mr Lindsey said the MSMEs sector is the high growth sector in Ghana, making
huge contributions to job creation and the Gross Domestic Product.Despite the
huge contribution, he said, the MSMEs continue to face many challenges in their
production capacity and competitiveness to take full advantage of local and
international opportunities.The challenges include financing, low productivity
and difficulty in achieving economics of scale, difficulty in accessing market
information, lack of modern technology, high cost of research and development
and shortage of skills personnel.
Mr Lindsey said government’s 10-point industrial plan, which has embedded in it
MSMEs development programme to enhance the productive capacity entrepreneurs and
competitiveness to help existing businesses to grow and to create jobs and
opportunitiesHe said the programme would
help tap the huge potential of the export market with value added products.Ms
Kosi Yankey, Executive Director NBSSI, said the choice of the garment and
textile sector was because the important role it plays in the economy though
its contribution has waned over the few years through the shutdown of garment
factories.
She said the public private programme is to ensure that the entrepreneurs and
people involved in the programme have their skills upgraded so that they are
sustainable.Mr Yankey said the main programme would begin in January and urged
interested entrepreneurs who would want to participate to apply when the
application process opens.“I am excited about the future of this collaboration
and partnership to create opportunity for citizens to build sustainable
businesses and to create jobs,” she said.It is anticipated that over 150
beneficiaries would be trained within the first year of operation of the scheme
and 100 start-ups commissioned within the year of operation.
Mr Samuel Dodoo, President
SPINnet, said the cluster’s overall vision is to position the garment industry
as a significant contributor to the development of the economy through
employment creation and revenue generation, particularly in the export sector.He
said it also seeks to harness the strength of the local MSMEs in the garment
and textile sector for the collective growth and sustenance of the industry.He
said the incubator programme was opened to groups and individuals who seek to
improve on their productivity and competiveness.
Mr Dodoo said the incubator
would provide various services, including proficiency training in demand-driven
skills set within the textile garment and creative arts industry in the areas
of occupational skills, specialised production techniques, special machinery
operation and business development services, among others. He urged all
members of the sector and mass production organisations as well as sister
associations to take the opportunity to improve on their production skills.
Source: Business Ghana, Ghana Wednesday, 01 November 2017