Fiji textile council gets $100k to boost manufacturing

Textile Clothing and Footwear (TCF) Council of Fiji has received a grant of $100,000 from the ministry of industry, trade and tourism to develop the manufacturing sector.

The aid will help TCF sector to establish more industries especially in the western division to explore new markets, said Shaheen Ali, industry, trade and tourism permanent secretary.

The initiative by the government will help establish service and manufacturing zones that will attract investors, said Ali, during the $100,000 grant handover ceremony at the ministry. The trading can improve as the manufacturing zone is also closer to Nadi international airport and international port.

TCF industry is one of the major contributing factors to Fiji’s gross domestic product. Australia and New Zealand are main export markets for Fiji’s TCF industry. The financial assistance will allow TCF Council to promote business in North America, Europe, Pacific Island countries and Asia, Fijian media reports said.

“The readymade infrastructure in Nadi will have manufacturing companies including IT and business process outsourcing operations that will also increase the scope of employment for young graduates,” said Ali.

“The same concept is being followed in China, India and Singapore. It will take us some time, planning and investment to implement it.”

The grant has allowed the industry stakeholders to come under one umbrella, said TCF president Kaushik Kumar.

The TCF industry has received a grant of $850,000 in the last eight years from the government under the National Exports Strategy grants, said Ali.

Nearly 7,000 people are employed with the TCF industry with nearly 90 per cent of them being women.