Castor plant, which is native to the Ethiopian region of tropical East Africa, has become naturalized in tropical and warm temperate regions throughout the world. The castor plant is seen as an undesirable weed by farmers in many countries, yet it produces one of the most versatile natural oils. The oil extracted from castor seeds
Technology upgradation is one of the main drivers of productivity in East Africa’s Textile and Apparel (T&A) industries and 84% of textile manufacturers want to upgrade. Having consulted 112 manufacturing firms, SITA’s ‘Facing the Future’ report identifies this demand for upgradation, and analyses the challenges preventing manufacturers from being able to do so: lack of
For Ugandan food and beverage companies competing on the domestic market, seal of approval from the Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is key for success. However, it can be a daunting undertaking for smaller and newer businesses. Women ‘agripreneurs’ are up against a particular set of challenges, specific to women and specific to East
The textile and garment industry in Ethiopia is growing rapidly and could be a powerful means for inclusive growth and Sustainable Development. However, there are gaps in the domestic supply chain. SITA has set up a producer-owned company to capitalise on these gaps, leveraging on the appropriate knowledge and technology from India’s a flourishing handloom
SITA organized a webinar on The Future of the Textile and Apparel Sector – an Indo-African Perspective in collaboration with the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), India International Textile Machinery Exhibitions Society (India ITME Society), Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) and Ethiopian Textile and Garment Manufacturers Association (ETGAMA). Opening remarks highlighted the opportunities in Indo-African partnerships, and the importance of sustainability for a competitive sector.
SITA organized its first virtual sourcing event in July 2020 in partnership with Asia Pacific Leather Fair (APLF), Hong Kong. Five tanneries from Kenya and Uganda were connected with 128 international buyers in an hour-long series of presentations. The tanneries will continue to showcase their products in APLF’s online showroom for the next year. The five tanneries
Last August, SITA facilitated a four-week training program on Leather Processing Technologies for Leather Manufacturers, which was delivered by the Central Leather Research Institute (CRLI) of India. With a focus on value addition for eight East African leather-makers, the training was centered around upgrading wet blue (raw) leather to finished leather, including clean technologies and