The Ethiopian Textile Industry Development Institute signed a three-year twinning arrangement with National Institute of Fashion Technology, an Indian Company.

Speaking on a meeting held in Addis Ababa on Saturday August 17, 2013, Institute General Director, Sileshi Lema said the arrangement will help to build capacities of professionals in the sector.

The US$ 3.5 million cost for the three-year twinning program which will train 2,000 professionals during its first phase of the training will covered by Government of Ethiopia, Sileshi said.

Industry State Minister, Tadese Haile on his part said the government is working hard to make the sector internationally competitive. The arrangement will help Ethiopia's efforts to secure one billion U.S dollars from the sector at the end of the Growth and Transformation Plan period, he said.

The Minister also said the government will continue supporting the development of the sector. National Institute of Fashion Technology Director General, Prem Kumar Gera said the training will mainly focus on building design, marketing, management and technical capacities, among others.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency