The German Development Cooperation has announced the successful completion of the “Training the Next Generation of Experts in Garment Manufacturing” (TRAINEX) program, a major skills-development initiative designed to enhance technical capacity within Ghana’s textile and apparel sector.
Supported by the Special Initiative Decent Work for a Just Transition under the Invest for Jobs brand, TRAINEX was funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ in partnership with Brandix Corporate Campus.
Africa’s textile and apparel ecosystem continues to face a significant production gap. Value-added output across the continent is projected to reach only US$1.84 billion in 2025, far below its market potential. In Ghana, annual domestic demand stands at approximately 120 million yards of fabric—worth nearly US$400 million—yet local factories utilize only 30% of their capacity. Chronic underinvestment and a shortage of skilled talent remain major barriers to growth.
Closing the Skills Gap in Ghana’s Textile and Garment Sector
TRAINEX was launched to help bridge this gap by equipping young professionals with the technical and managerial competencies needed to increase productivity and improve global competitiveness. Trainees received intensive instruction in production management, quality control, merchandising and costing, industrial engineering, and social compliance.
The program blended classroom-based learning with factory-floor coaching and hands-on internships delivered by seasoned industry specialists. As part of the initiative, participants joined a study tour in Sri Lanka, organized with Brandix Corporate Campus—the training arm of one of Sri Lanka’s leading garment manufacturers. The tour exposed participants to international best practices and advanced garment production systems, offering valuable real-world experience.
With the program now completed, many participants are already being integrated into local garment factories—an important milestone in building a sustainable talent pipeline for Ghana’s expanding apparel industry. Stakeholders say the newly trained workforce will help reduce dependence on expatriate expertise while accelerating long-term sectoral transformation. The program is also expected to support future reforms aimed at aligning Ghana’s textile and fashion curricula with industry needs.
“The training enables participants to enhance their work efficiency while also equipping them to train others in the workplace,” said Simon Hochstein, Component Head for Invest for Jobs at GIZ Ghana.
“This will help improve productivity, strengthen the textile industry, and create more jobs. Such efforts make an important contribution to a Just Transition—one that makes our economy more inclusive and creates greater opportunities for women and youth.”
The successful conclusion of TRAINEX marks a significant step toward addressing Ghana’s skills gap and unlocking the full potential of its textile and garment manufacturing sector.
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