Li and Fung, Hong Kong headquartered industrial firm specializing in supply chain management of high-volume, time-sensitive goods for leading retailers and brands worldwide through an extensive global network and is now seeking to explore opportunities in Kenyan local textile sector.

The firm has just concluded a fact-finding mission to Kenya hosted by Ministry of Industrialisation and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed.

Following its fact finding mission, all indicators are now positive that Li and Fung may be one of the first operators at the proposed Textile City to be located at the Export Processing Zone complex in Athi River, as they have expressed keen interest to set up shop in Kenya as part of its efforts to meet global demand for premium textile products and related goods.

By entering the Kenyan industrial space, Li and Fung will be extending its reach beyond its current operations in Egypt, Mauritius, Madagascar, Morocco and South Africa.

Speaking in Nairobi on Friday when he hosted Li and Fung executives in his office, Ministry of Industrialization and Enterprise Development, Cabinet Secretary, Adan Mohamed, said that global players are trooping to East Africa with a keen eye to set shop in Kenya.

However, his ministry is sparing no effort to revamp the textile sector and is rolling out a raft of measures to attract the best players at the global stage. Moreover, with the $300bn AGOA market largely untapped, there is a great opportunity to create jobs in apparel manufacturing in the short term as a quick win to address the unemployment challenges currently faced in Kenya.

The Kenyan government has committed resources to revitalize the textile sector that will ensure its competitiveness is un-matched in the region and that Kenya is well positioned to become the regional hub for textiles and apparel production.

Li and Fung's sourcing business apart from garments and apparel also cover a wide range of non-apparel products such as toys, home furnishings, sporting goods, footwear, and health and beauty products.