Nigeria: Firm targets 3,000 textiles, garment workers
Sam and Sara (Omoluabi) Garment Factory has hinted of plans to employ about 3,000 workers from the textile and garment industry.
Disclosing this to The Nation, the Managing Director of the company, Mrs. Folake Oyemade, said going by the company’s expansion plan, about 3, 000 workers are expected to join its workforce, adding that this is in line with the government transformation agenda.
She commended the Osun State government and Bank of Industry for their support in driving the initiative and creating an enabling environment for the business to thrive.
According to her, Sam and Sara is one of the few companies in Africa that took advantage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
Today, she noted that tonnes of uniforms are being exported from Nigeria to America under its brand name, Impreza.
“Though the profit is still marginal because of the exchange rate and other factors, like government’s inadequate protectionist policy through the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) scheme, we are optimistic that the trade condition will improve, more so if the Nigerian government recognizes the benefits of building local industry using the instrument of friendly taxation.
“But for the Bank of Industry (BOI) that offers a reasonable interest on loan and encourages local entrepreneurs, the interest rate in commercial banks in Nigeria is outrageous,” she said.
She however regretted that there is no market for Nigerian brands, adding that foreign brands has taking over.
“The Chinese have bombarded our market with fake products. People go to China to manufacture substandard products to come and sell in Nigeria,” she said.
“Another challenge is that our products are not available in the market. We have to create market for made-in-Nigeria brands. We must pull out of those orthodox markets and create our own market,” she said.
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