Program for Expanding Apparel Exports, Technical Assistance Performed, August 2015

The program was launched in 2015 with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program's primary objective was to increase apparel exports from Ghana by improving the competitiveness of the industry. Key activities performed by the AVCS, during the AVCA's STTA August 2015 trip, included the Apparel Capacity Building Workshop. The workshop was attended by six key Government Agencies, including the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI), Ghana Investment Promotion Center (GIPC), and Ghana Export Promotion Authority (GEPA). The workshop aimed to make the Government Agencies more aware of the Ghanaian garment industry and the missed investment and promotion opportunities to date. The workshop featured presentations from various stakeholders, including WATIH, MOTI, GEPA, GIPC, EDAIF, and COTVET. The presentations highlighted the need for a business-enabling environment for investments and export-led growth in the apparel industry. The Association of Ghana Apparel Manufacturers (AGAM) also presented, highlighting the lack of Government support in areas such as training and the inability to expand due to a lack of available serviced factory shells. A factory tour of the Dignity DTRT operations was also conducted, which provided delegates with an opportunity to see a mass production, export-oriented garment factory in operation. The tour highlighted the potential of the apparel sector for the Ghanaian economy. In addition to the workshop and factory tour, the FY 2016 workplan for Cote d'Ivoire was also discussed. A USAID Mission is to be set up in Cote d'Ivoire, which will cover the apparel sector in more detail. However, the cost of revitalizing the textile industry in Cote d'Ivoire is not advisable due to the high cost of revitalizing an essentially defunct textile industry. The program aimed to improve the competitiveness of the apparel sector in Ghana by providing training and support to garment manufacturers, improving the business-enabling environment, and increasing access to markets. The program's geographic focus was on Ghana, with a specific emphasis on the apparel industry. The program's context was the need to improve the competitiveness of the apparel sector in Ghana and increase apparel exports from the country. The program's timeframes were not explicitly stated, but the document mentions the FY 2016 workplan for Cote d'Ivoire. The program's recommendations were not explicitly stated, but the document mentions the need for a business-enabling environment for investments and export-led growth in the apparel industry. Overall, the WATIH Program for Expanding Apparel Exports was established to support the growth of the apparel industry in Ghana. The program's primary objective was to increase apparel exports from Ghana by improving the competitiveness of the industry.