First exports of clothing 'Made in Algeria” slated for end of the year

The Manager of the Public Group “Tailoring & Clothing”, Ahmed Benayad, has revealed that Algeria produces only 4% of its textile clothing, as the rest is being imported from abroad.

He however asserted that this untoward trend will change in the future as Algeria will export by the end of the year its textile products “made in Algeria” through the Sidi Khettab project now underway in Relizane (Western Algeria).

Taking the floor during a press conference in Riadh El Feth culture center in upper Algiers, in preparation for the staging of the Days on Algerian textiles to be held next week, Mr Ahmed Benayad revealed that there are 31 entities in the sector now employing 7,000 workers in addition to partnerships initiated with the Ministries of National Defense and the Interior and local Assemblies notably the DGSN and Civil Protection.

However, he acknowledged that the national textile sector is still plagued by many problems including the overall salary system which is not motivating, the lack of training for apprentices, the inadequate retirement pension’s scale for the seasoned workers, as well as the lack of raw materials and the unfair competition stemming from the sprawling informal market.

Regarding the textiles complex of Sidi Khettab, he indicated that it is the fruit of a viable partnership with the Turks, an investment that is meant to contribute greatly to the revival of the national textile industry and to ensure import substitution, adding that the overall production of this complex will be dedicated to exports by 60% to France, Italy, Spain and the United States and the other 40% will be devoted to the local market.