Edgars eye export market

Published: 21 February 2014

Giant clothing manufacturer and retailer, Edgars Group is set to resume garments and clothing exports to the European Union among other international markets.

In an interview, Edgars Carousel managing director Zeb Vella said the local market provided a critical mass to sustain the business, but the division was eyeing the export market within the next four months.

"We have got around 14 million people in the country, and we can't export to the Southern Africa Development Community because of the previous agreement on two stages of transformation.

"As such we need to look beyond the region and tap into the European Union markets and other international markets. We used to supply work suits to South Africa and clothes to Germany," he said.

In response to questions on why the division was not exporting to the Common Market for eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Vella cited cultural differences and logistical challenges.

"We cannot export to Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) because of logistical problems. Moreover, there are cultural differences we can't export Zimbabwean shirts to Ghana, Egypt and Nigeria because of their national dresses.

"I think there is need for the government to work on reviewing the SADC agreement because we can't access the SADC market where we have an upper hand," he added.

Vera's comments come shortly after EU ambassador Aldo Dell Ariccia challenged the local clothing manufacturers to focus on quality and retain the EU market.

Vella was speaking at the sidelines of the official launch of the Carousels the new men's casual range under the label "QOUTE urbanwear" in Harare yesterday.

The new range collection will be selected in selected Retail partner which includes Edgars Stores, Topics, Barons, Raffles, Mick Davies/Brentoni, Messeratis (Masvingo) and Giga & Sons.

Carousel is a division of the Edgars Group,one of the country's leading suppliers of clothing.
- zimmail