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BUA Group, Nigeria’s foremost food and infrastructure conglomerate, has engaged the services of renowned Swiss firm, Gherzi Textile Organization on studies, master plan design and engineering for the development of mega integrated Textile and Garment Cluster in Kastina State.
The BUA Group said in a statement issued the plan is coming on the heels of the recent decision by the Group to establish West Africa’s largest private-led textile cluster in Kastina State.
The statement also noted that BUA Group recently entered into collaboration with the Kastina State Government to set-up a Textile and Garment Cluster which would generate over 25,000 jobs and revive the obsolete textile industry in Nigeria.
Speaking on the development, Kabiru Rabiu, BUA’s group executive director, said Gherzi was strategically contracted for the assignment because of its proven track record and vast expertise of textile mills and apparel parks worldwide.
He noted that the company has successfully undertaken and executed hundreds of textile and apparel parks in over 70 countries for public, private and international institutions across the globe.
‘’As part of our plans to contribute to the revival of the textile industry, we partnered with the Swiss firm, Ghezi, which was established in 1929 because they are arguably the most experienced textile consulting company in the world today. Moreover, they have deep knowledge about the Nigerian textile industry as they were at one time contracted by the Federal Government of Nigeria to advise on the industry,” Rabiu said.
The multinational company specializes in textiles, garments and the textile supply chain, particularly in IT, Architecture, Construction, Mechanical/Electrical engineering and Project management. Expectedly, they meet the stringent professional standard of the Swiss Association of Management Consultants (ASCO) and the Swiss Association of Engineers and Architects (SIA).
Still speaking on the KTGC development, Rabiu said, “This particular investment is part of the Group’s efforts to help to generate over 25,000 jobs and make the moribund textile industry viable again in Nigeria.
‘’Nigeria used to have the largest textile industry in Sub-Sahara Africa in the 1960s and 1980s when the industry played a dominant role in boosting the economy, contributing prominently to country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), today however, the sector that used to be the largest employer of labour after the Federal Government, contributes less than two percent to the economy.’’
‘’As a result of the oil boom and an oversight of the agricultural sector in the past, the textile industry was adversely affected. Nigeria imports some $4 billion worth of textiles from overseas, majority of which is smuggled to major textile markets in the country; a situation that has not only undermines the local industry, but deprives people of jobs, the government of revenue and drains country’s foreign reserves which is detrimental to the growth of the economy’’.
Rabiu stated that in order to revive the sector, Nigeria must try to be competitive by replicating what other countries with thriving textile industries have done, which is to introduce sound policy, basic infrastructure, as well as strong supply chain from cotton production to processing, all the way to distribution to the market, which is BUA is trying to put in place.
“You can’t have a viable textile industry, for example, if you don’t have a stable and consistent energy supply’’. He added.
‘’BUA is very optimistic about this project, most especially the impact it would have on the economy in terms of job creation and wealth generation.
We therefore appreciate the efforts and support of Aminu Bello Masari, governor of Katsina State, and the Federal Government through the Ministry of Industry Trade and Investment for their role and strong commitment towards making this project a big success and reality,” he concluded.
HARRISON EDEH, Abuja
