Kenya makes gains in textile cooperation with China: expert

Kenya's cooperation with China whose textile industry is advanced is positive to the success and attainment of Kenya's Vision 2030, the East African nation's development programme for 2008-2030, a Kenyan professor has said.

Prof. Richard Mibey, vice chancellor of Kenya's Moi University, said cotton export from Africa accounts for about 13 percent of the world's production while China accounts for the highest single-country fabrics export, which put the two as major players in textile industry.

"The textile industry is an important contributor to Kenya's economy, serving as a large source of jobs and export earnings," said Mibey.

He noted that Moi University, as a premier institution of research and higher learning in Africa, has identified the cotton sector within which it can partner with other stakeholders in achieving sustainable development in Kenya and across the continent.

Mibey made the remarks during a two-day Sino-Africa symposium on textile and apparel as well as cultural exchanges that wrapped up in Kenyan coastal city of Mombasa on Wednesday.

Cui Yunhua, vice chair of China's Donghua University Council, said Donghua University and Moi University, co-organizers of the event, have collaborated well in the fields of textile and fashion design over the years.

He added that recent years have also witnessed achievements in exchange and cooperation in specifically higher education between China and Kenya.