U.S. Apparel Industry For Ghana

Washington, DC -- The Whitaker Group (TWG) President Rosa Whitaker is bringing US apparel industry giant Martin Trust to Ghana and Uganda July 28th - 31st to explore long term sourcing and investment prospects in light of the recently expanded African Growth and Opportunity Act.

Mr. Trust is Chairman of Brandot (USA), LLC, a holding company engaged in the production of apparel and textile products. Previously, he served as Founder/ President and Chief Executive Officer of Mast Industries, Inc., a billion-plus dollar manufacturer, importer and wholesaler of women's apparel and wholly-owned subsidiary of Limited Brands.

Mr. Trust's global interests include two garment factories in Madagascar known as Cottonline and Colombia Clothing Company (CCC). Both factories continue to expand their workforce and are adding equipment to broaden their product lines.

Cottonline continues to focus its production on GAP, while CCC is working with Liz Claiborne, Abercrombie≈Fitch, and Express. CCC recently received its first order from Sears.

In Ghana, Mr Trust is scheduled to meet President John Agyekum Kufuor and the Ministers of Finance and Trade. He will take part in a roundtable with industry representatives and visit apparel factories as well as an export zone established specifically for apparel and textile manufacture.

In Uganda, Mr Trust will see President Yoweri Museveni. He will have a roundtable discussion with executives from Phoenix Apparel, Tri-Star, the Madhvani Group and Southern Range, along with representatives of the Trade Ministry, Finance Ministry and the Ugandan Investment Authority. Susan Muhwezi and her AGOA office are coordinating the Trust program in Uganda.

In both countries, he will be examining the emerging call center services sector. Mr. Trust is on the Board of Directors of Staples-a $13 billion chain of office supplies, business furniture and retail technology stores.

Ms Whitaker and TWG are facilitating theses meeting as part of the firm's mission to help clients realize the full benefit of the African Growth and Opportunity Act. Since its launch in early 2003, TWG has generated trade and investment for its Africa clients valued at over $50 million. Ms Whitaker was founder and co-chair of the coalition which successfully lobbied for the recent extension of AGOA, the African Growth and Opportunity Acceleration Act of 2004.

For further information contact The Whitaker Group at 202 349 3871, or email [email protected]