THE eThekwini Municipality intends to “invest” millions of rand in the apparel and textile industry in order to safeguard and expand the business.
The city will sign a memorandum of understanding with the non-profit KZN Clothing and Textile Cluster. After full council approved the funds, the city would invest more than R12 million in the industry over the next three years.
In a study on the subject, the city stated that it is required to assist industry clusters in order to stimulate participatory economic activity, allowing local industry to stabilize and expand the eThekwini region’s GDP.
The clothing and textile industry is the largest employer in eThekwini and the sector remains critical to the growth of the city’s economy. The KZN Clothing and Textile Cluster is a necessary vehicle to strengthen the industry and collectively drive greater efficiencies and economies of scale that will make the sector more competitive, it said. The city should provide annual progress reports on the initiative as well as an annual business plan for noting by the Economic Development and Planning Committee.
