The Ghana Apparel and Textile Exposition 2010 (GHATEXPO 2010) exhibition is scheduled in Accra for October 1 to October 10, on the theme: “Reviving Ghana’s Textile and Apparel Industry.” Mrs Gifty Agbodo, Managing Director of Maimus Trade Consulting Industry Limited, Ghana, organisers of GHATEXPO, said at the weekend that Ghana‘s Textile Industry revenue totalled 180 million dollars in 1994, but fell to 3.2 million dollars in 1998 although textile imports increased to 42 million dollars by 1999. She said although there has been a significant decrease in the number of large and medium scale firms in the textile industry over the years, the number of small-scale entities has increased steadily. Mrs Agbodo said the small-scale textile and apparel sector remains vibrant and economically viable and has shown resilience despite the crisis facing the industry. She said the idea behind GHATEXPO is to provide a common platform to bring together on yearly basis, government, industry players, financial institutions and interested businessmen to help address key issues relating to the industry. Mrs Agbodo said the aim of GHATEXPO is to facilitate the promotion of trade and investment in the Ghanaian textile and apparel industry to promote the generation of internal revenue to ensure growth and expansion. GHATEXPO seeks to promote and encourage the everyday use of local fabrics and garment and build the supply chain linkages through networking within the nation as well as the West African sub-region. Mr Tandoh, Deputy Director of Small and Medium Enterprises of the Ministry of Trade and Industry said his sector ministry would support the promotion of industrialisation and patronage of locally made fabrics and garment. Source: GNA