Tri-Star Apparels, the only Ugandan firm exporting duty-free garments to the US under the AGOA initiative is in talks with a US garments firm, Pacific Capital Limited, to export two million pieces of garments.

Tri-Star's executive director, yesterday met two Pacific Capital officials, James longford and Cliff Swenson at Premier Prof. Apolo Nsibambi's home at Bulange, Mengo in Kampala.

"We are negotiating a deal to supply over two million pieces of garments to them. Each piece goes for an average of US$6 (sh10,800)," Kananathan said.

Longford, the president of Pacific Capital, said the company had dealt with Tri-Star for one-and-a-half years.

He said the quality of the garments was excellent, prompting them to negotiate more business with Uganda.

"We have come to negotiate big business because the market is available," Longford said.

Nsibambi lauded Tri-Star for marketing ugandan garments in America and employing over 2,400 people.

He said unemployment was high and there was a need for more 'kana-nathans' to combat it.

Nsibambi said the biggest challenge was lack of machinery for spinning and weaving to ensure 100% value addition.

"Our biggest challenge now is to produce our own fabric because under the AGOA arrangement, we will not be allowed to import fabric from non-member countries after September 31, 2007.

"By establishing the spinning and weaving mills, we shall employ more people and add 100% value to our raw materials," Nsibambi said.

Latest AGOA Trade Data currently available on AGOA.info


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