Africa Can Be the Future! Challenges and Opportunities of the Ethiopian Textile Industry

Abstract

Stephan Rehlen from RFC Consulting is long-term expert of Gesamtmasche within the project “Partner Africa Ethiopia”, has been supporting textile cooperation in Ethiopia and other African countries for more than 14 years. The cooperation between Gesamtmasche and the Ethiopian Textile and Garment Manufacturers Association (ETGAMA) is not only about the promotion of textile cooperation, but also about the expansion and further development of cotton cultivation and the establishment of local value chains. This is intended to promote not only economic interests, but also sustainable, transparent and traceable supply chains. While the road ahead for Ethiopia’s textile industry is still long, the potential is great according to Stephan Rehlen, who knows the value chain on the ground very well and is convinced of the country’s potential. In an interview with Reimer Gronemeyer and Michaela Fink, he reports on the latest developments in the Ethiopian textile and apparel sector as well as his personal experiences in working with Ethiopian partners and German investors.