EPZ Seeks Renewal Of AGOA

The Export Processing Zones is seeking the renewal of African Growth and Opportunity Act for another four years.

Chairman of the Kenya Apparel Manufacturers Exporters Association, Mr Jaswinder Bedi, said that the extension of AGOA would help create about 200,000 more jobs from the current 37,000.

The current four-year treaty to export textiles to the US is scheduled to end in October next year. Mr Bedi urged the Government to help the EPZ negotiate with the United States for the extension of the treaty by another term.

"We are in a dilemma about what to do if the contract is not renewed. It''s highly crucial that we get an extension for the industry to survive," said the official.

He was speaking during the signing of a collective bargaining agreement between the EPZ apparel manufacturers and exporters group and the Tailors and Textile Workers Union (TTWU) at the Waajiri House in Nairobi.

Present was Labour permanent secretary Deborah Ongewe, Federation of Kenya Employers executive director Tom Owuor and the secretary general of the TTWU, Mr William Muga Aketch. The Central Organisation of Trade Unions was represented by the assistant secretary general, Mr George Odiko.