By Kae Matundu-Tjiparuro WINDHOEK They are not engaged in manufacturing but are merely doing advocacy work for the companies involved in actual manufacturing – two of Namibian Garments Marketing Company (NGMC)’s foremost officials were at pains to point out early in the interview. Joined by the Quality Assurance Manager, Onias Fredy, midway through the interview, Chairman Theophillus Rohm and Marketing Administrative Executive, Liesl Boois, are cautious lest they are mistaken as manufacturers. They are far from being textile manufacturers. And they want to keep it that way. They would rather stick to the equally important task of campaigning for the actual players, the textile producers and other related players one day being taken seriously. This is by ensuring that the market not only takes note of their existence, but opens up to them first locally, then regionally and eventually internationally. In this endeavour, skills-transfer and capacity-building ring high among their priorities. Only in existence for close on a year, it has already mobilized almost 60 member organizations in the industry employing about 2ÃÆ’Æ‘ÀÃ…ÃÆ”šÃ‚ 000 people formally and informally. The Swakopmund-based Namib Clothing, Palm Garment and Designtique, both from Windhoek, and Dantago Clothing from Arandis form the strategic backbone of the company. NGMC is motivated in its mission by an industry that has little trust in local manufacturers and also ignores and underutilizes the ample local capacity existing in the industry. Even simple school uniforms and protective clothing are still the domain of companies from our southern neighbour, and input from local components is almost non-existent. As a result of this state of affairs and the dumping of goods on the local market, input costs become unbearable for local manufacturers. Not only that, but with the import of goods by outlets little skills transfer and capacity-building take place locally. Although it does not claim the production of a whole range locally by Namibian companies, NGMC is seeking at least an opportunity for the wholesome production of ranges such as school uniforms in which its members can claim overall capacity, and a percentage of the share of the market in the ranges where it or its members do not have full capacity. In the case of the latter, partnerships with foreign ventures would allow for the necessary capacity-building and the transfer of skills. Realizing the challenges that efficiency and quality pose to the competitiveness of local products, NGMC has been taking an active lead in training. This is assured by regular on-the-ground visits to factories under the auspices of its able Quality Assurance Manager. But its efforts would be meaningless without the commitment of the industry. Only the actual players in the industry know the ABC of the industry, and close collaboration with it is a must. A blessing in this regard is that the NGMC works closely with one important player – the Ministry of Trade and Industry. This is particularly important in view of the various regional and international protocols relating to this field that also have an impact on the local textile industry. After the initial skepticism within the industry, admittedly the initiative is only now starting to realize its main purpose, thanks to vigorous marketing and training workshops NGMC has been having, with the next one billed for the North. The last one held in Swapomund beginning April is already bearing fruit with enquiries flowing in – 60 in total so far of those showing interest in joining. Can you blame NGMC for seeing the way forward as more advocacy and development, coupled with capacity-building? It is also keen to see foreign investment flowing into the local textile industry.