Nigeria is looking at strengthening its ties with the Indian textile industry to revive its cotton integrated industry.

A 12-member delegation on a week’s study tour to India held discussions with the industry in some of the textile hubs to learn more about the best practices adopted across the textile value chain.Indian investments in the textile sector in Nigeria are very high.

Nigeria has 84 million sq km of fertile land and nearly one million sq km is under cotton cultivation. However, the textile industry in Nigeria, which was once a thriving sector, is facing challenges because of import of garments at low prices. The influx of low cost Chinese garments through the unorganised route has undermined the local industry. Hence Nigeria is looking at strengthening cooperation with the Indian textile and garment industry in the areas of cotton production, trade, investments, and capacity building.

India is working to boost its technical textile industry and is willing to partner with and support Nigeria in terms of provision of textile machinery, technology, capacity building and training in the entire textile value chain. India recognises the immense potential of Africa as the home of the world’s largest free trade area by the number of participating countries and the fastest-growing economies in the world.