Basotho Enterprise Development Corporation (BEDCO) presented a report on exploring linkages between Basotho owned garment firms and larger manufacturers in Lesotho's clothing and textile sector in Maseru on Thursday.

The Director of Enterprise Development and Promotion, Mr. Ts'eliso Mokhosi said the report follows a study that was conducted in July last year in an effort to enable them to work with textile factories and enjoy benefits in the international market.

He said it has been arranged that eligible Basotho manufacturers will be attached in Taiwanese factories based in Lesotho for a month to gain experience on how factories function, and to enable them to be capable of producing larger quantities of garments within a set period of time.

Mr. Mokhosi said that those who will be attached are expected to employ about 60 people in their firms for job creation and meet the requirements of the international market.

One of the Qiloane clothing manufacturers, Mr. Lefa Mofana, expressed appreciation over the initiative taken by BEDCO to ensure that local manufacturers are linked with the textile factories for the improvement of their activities.

He said, shortage of machines and lack of entrepreneurial skills are some of the challenges they face, and as a result they are unable to manufacture goods at mass production.

He stated that BEDCO plays a crucial role in the development of the Lesotho economy through small enterprises business owners hence the need to support the initiative.

Source: LENA 11/10/2007