Massive boost for textile sector

MASERU – A new initiative to support Basotho who are involved in the textile sector was launched last Thursday. The Textile Hub is the brainchild of the Basotho Enterprise Development Corporation (Bedco). Its agenda is to assist Basotho in the textile sector grow their businesses. The textile sector has been identified as one of the priority sectors under the National Development Strategic Plan II (NSDPII). Basotho in the textile sector will be helped to increase their production and export capacity and generate income at a reduced cost of production. The facility houses a total of 21 machines and will include services such as printing, cutting, overlocking, flat stitching, plain seaming, hemming, pocket facing, attaching elastic lace, zigzag stitching and pressing. Entrepreneurs who are eligible to access the facility must be between the ages of 18 and 60. Speaking at the launch, Bedco CEO Idia Penane said following the success of the woodwork or carpentry machine leasing programme at the Maseru and Hlotse estates, they saw a need to create a shared textile facility. She added that the carpentry programme assists approximately 1 500 Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMES) quarterly. “Many have acquired a substantial market in large retail stores,” Penane said. The textile hub at Bedco, Sebaboleng in Maseru, will operate on weekdays from 8am to 5pm and on Saturday from 9am to 3pm. The Textile Hub is another initiative to fulfil Bedco’s 2019-2025 strategy which will focus on leading the development of MSMES in the NSDPII priority sectors through various business development services driven through strategic partnerships. “The corporation has an objective of developing 1 300 existing MSMES as follows: 1 000 micro businesses; 200 small businesses and 50 medium businesses by the end of 2022,” Penane said. “Bedco also seeks to develop 50 youth start-up MSMES,” she said. One of Lesotho’s renowned entrepreneurs in the textile industry, Teboho Kobeli, said The Textile Hub is a significant milestone for the local textile industry. “I am astonished that within such a short time with you as the lead, ’Mè Penane, you have managed to open such a facility that will change the textile landscape especially for MSMEs,” Kobeli said. Meanwhile, the Minister of Small Business Development Machesetsa Mofomobe said there was once a time when business was in the hands of Basotho and much needs to be done to get back to that state. Mofomobe applauded Bedco for having a facility that will cater to those who are still in their infancy stages in the industry and hopefully assist them to grow into sustainable businesses. “We encourage such efforts and developments as they significantly contribute towards the much needed jobs and economic growth,” Mofomobe said. He added that in the quest to return business into the hands of Basotho, the government has tasked them with producing regulations and laws that will reserve certain businesses for Basotho. “The challenge has been regarding the definition of who qualifies as a Mosotho and we have been given until March to have put the matter to bed,” he said. “Maybe one would have to have had three generations born and raised in Lesotho to qualify as one but the matter is still ongoing.” Lemohang Rakotsoane