The following is a round-up of apparel and footwear news from the world’s local media.

  • A memorandum of understanding (MoU) has been signed by India and Sri Lanka to set up a Women’s Community Learning Centre in Ampara, Sri Lanka, which will administer vocational training, including garment making, to war affected and destitute women. Under the project, to be implemented over two years, 20 master and 100 grassroot trainees will be trained. The MoU was signed by India’s high commissioner YK Sinha and Chandrani Senaratne, secretary of Sri Lanka’s ministry of women and child affairs. The Indian government has backed a similar project in Batticaloa since June 2010 which has trained more than 1,500 women. DAILY NEWS

  • The South African clothing and textile workers’ union says that despite significant investment and government support in recent years, the industry is struggling to move from survivalist to expansionist mode. “Government needs to answer issues of incentives, cheaper industrial loans, and steps to deal with customs fraud, including reference prices and increased monitoring, designation for (government) procurement of clothing, textile and leather (CTFL) goods,” said SACTWU researcher Simon Eppel. FIN24

  • Zimbabwean textile companies have suspended exports to South Africa due to the depreciation of the rand, which has been on a steady slide against the US dollar in the wake of internal and external economic pressures that have weighed down on the neighbouring country’s economy. THE CHRONICLE

  • Swedish furniture giant IKEA is to increase its sourcing of cotton from India as it prepares to start retail operations there by next year. The company, which is working with around 400,000 farmers in India through local partners under the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) programme, sources almost one-third of its global requirements from India. The company is planning 25 stores in India by 2025. THE ECONOMIC TIMES.

  • Nigeria’s Kwara State government has secured a US$56m Chinese investment to establish a textile industrial park in the state. Building is expected to commence imminently, with 3,000 jobs created once the new venture is operational. The move is part of a focus by the state on manufacturing to stimulate the economy and create jobs. LEADERSHIP NEWSPAPERS

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just-style has not checked these stories so cannot guarantee their accuracy.

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