The VDMA German Engineering Federation, which is a Textile Machinery Association organized a programme for the German textile machinery and accessories manufacturers which consisted of visits to Ethiopian textile manufacturers from October 13 to October 17.

The seventy companies from Germany came to an event organised by SBS Systems for Business Solutions and Agathon Consulting.

Among the companies that visited Ethiopia were, Groz-Becket KG, Fong's Europr GMBH, Interspare GMBH, Jakob Muller AG and zHeusch GMBH & co KG.

The participants were machinery and accessory producers for spinning, knitting, weaving, hosiery, braiding, dyeing and sewing.

The delegation discussed about over the hurdles faced by the textile industry of Ethiopia concerning the supply chain from cotton to the end-product, the lack of foreign exchange to finance, necessary imports of textile machinery and intermediate textile products such as yarns, regular power interruptions and the overall infrastructure and logistics.

VDMA Textile Machinery Association said that despite the hurdles, the delegates from the German textile machinery and accessory manufacturers would continue to address the Ethiopian market by offering state-of-the-art solutions for the entire textile value chain which include machinery and accessories for spinning, knitting, weaving, hosiery, braiding, dyeing, drying, finishing, and sewing.

Ethiopia's export revenue for the year 2014 reached 120 million dollars and the plan for the year 2016 is to reach 500 million dollars. Investment in modern technology to increase the competitiveness of the industry is one decisive factor to reach the set goal.