Lesotho launches seven-year strategy to revitalize textile industry

The Lesotho Ministry of Trade, Industry and Business Development, in partnership with the World Bank Group and the Lesotho National Development Corporation, has unveiled a seven-year roadmap to rebuild the nation's textile and apparel sector. The strategy aims to transition the industry from basic assembly to high-value, full-package manufacturing by utilizing the country's indigenous wool and mohair resources.

Key objectives for 2033 include creating over 70,000 jobs and increasing annual exports beyond US$1 billion. The plan seeks to reduce dependence on the United States market by ensuring non-US markets account for 55 percent of exports, targeting growth within South Africa, the European Union, and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The initiative follows a period of decline where exports to the US fell by more than a third between 2022 and 2023, leading to significant job losses. The roadmap is structured into three phases: Diversification to 2028, Expansion to 2031, and Consolidation by the seventh year.