The United States Embassy in Banjul, in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade, Employment and Regional Integration, will next month lead a delegation of at least 30 Gambian fashion designers and apparel producers to the United States, to attend a major textile exposition.
Dubbed "Textile and Sewn Products Industry Week (TaSPIW)," the event will take place in Atlanta in the United States.
The event, according to US Ambassador to The Gambia, Barry Wells, who was speaking at a press conference held at the embassy last Thursday, will expose visitors to the latest equipment and technology in the textile making industry, and to the high quality fabrics in the United States.
This, he stated, is part of the United States Embassy and Ministry of Trade's effort to help develop The Gambia's fashion industry and help the country maximise benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA).
"In addition to the expo, in Atlanta, visitors will have the opportunity to showcase their products," he added. He stated that in June this year, some of the women will proceed to Baltimore and Maryland to attend an investment conference designed to connect them with US businesses seeking to invest in Africa in general and The Gambia, in particular," he stated.
Mr. Wells indicated that this will expose them to learn new things and improve their apparel production and fashion design business and the quality of their work, adding that it would also boost trade ties between The Gambia and US.
Mrs. Naffie Barry, the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Employment and Regional Integration urged the participants to make the best use of the opportunity available to them.
