Indian textile manufacturers are eyeing the Kenyan market for material export, hoping to capitalise on the country’s drive to increase local clothing consumption.
Fabrics for clothing, carpets, rugs, and towels are among the textile materials that Indian companies are looking to export to Kenya.
The Indian firms presented their bids to potential Kenyan apparel makers during the Reverse Buyer Seller Meet (RBSM) Wool and Woollen exhibition in New Delhi.
The three-day event which took place from March 25 to 27, saw Kenya’s fashion designers and sourcing agents interact with India’s wool and Woollen products manufacturers and exporters.
“The ultimate objective of the event was to strengthen “Brand India” image of Made in India Woollen/pashmina/GI products and blended textile products globally,” India’s Wool and Woollens Export promotion Council (WWEPC) chief executive officer (CEO) Anil Mehta said.
Kenyan fashion companies and importers that graced the event included Rialto Enterprises, Occasions and Days Limited, Sao Satorial Limited and Combiat Agencies.
Occasions and Days Limited CEO Monica Kanari said that they are eyeing partnerships with the Indian textile and apparel industry for a seamless source of quality fabrics for Kenya’s textile industry.
Kenya has been pushing consumption of locally-made apparel to create jobs as well as reduce the annual forex stockpile spent annually in buying second hand clothes from abroad.
Jump-starting the leather, textiles, and agro-processing sub-sectors was seen as critical in making fast gains in rebuilding Kenya’s industry under the manufacturing pillar of the government’s “Big Four” agenda.
