East African Business Week

Kampala, Uganda-Phenix Logistics Uganda Ltd, a garment factory in collaboration with Ethical Fashions Africa, and artisan women group, has exported a consignment of 50,000 cotton t-shirts to Italy.
The t-shirts produced by Phenix, were last week flagged off by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Tourism Trade and Industry, Ambassador Julius Onen at Phenix factory in Kampala.
 “The work that has been undertaken serves as an example to exhibit the creativity of Ugandan artisan," Onen said.
Onen said Government is considering some interventions to develop a handicraft training and development centre that will go along way to ensure product development; training and enhancement of skills for artists to enable them produce competitive products for the world market.
Phenix Logistics Executive Director Mr Yuichi Kashiwada, said competition from used clothes and dumping from China continues to be a challenge to the factory.
Kashiwada said transportation costs, availability of cotton lint and fabrics have also impacting on the factory's productivity.
Reports show that farm gate prices for cotton lint last season shot up by about 160% from between UGshs900-UGsh 1,000 per kilo of lint to UGShs2,600 (over $1). While Uganda's organic cotton is loved on the world market, production has slumped tremendously countrywide posing supply side constraints.
The General Manager Ethical Fashions Ltd, Ms Jane Chege, said the t-shirts will ne sold at between US$10 and US$20.
Chege said the artisan group in Kenya also produced 400,000 cartons of bags for the Italian market.