Listed consumer goods manufacturer Flame Tree Group is set to acquire local cosmetics firm Suzie Beauty.

"Kenyan Manufacturing". That's the title.

The challenges, the opportunities, the ups, the downs.

For the sector to be struggling, the downs, challenges, constraints should be outweighing the positives hence few people getting in that field.

I thought the discussion was about the factors that ail our manufacturing and the opportunities therein.

For me, it's simple. The manufacturing sector is not protected and factors of production are generally high. The initial capital is also prohibitive for most of the products. The gov't also needs to enable the sector, rather than treat it as a bunch of criminals.

I read some wazuans wondering why we import this and that, instead of making it locally. Who has stopped you, the know-it-all wazuan from starting a manufacturing plant?

HE SUMMIT TOOK NOTE OF THE PROGRESS MADE IN PROMOTING THE COTTON, TEXTILE, APPAREL AND LEATHER INDUSTRIES IN THE REGION AND DIRECTED THE PARTNER STATES TO ENSURE THAT ALL IMPORTED SECOND HAND SHOES AND CLOTHES COMPLY WITH SANITARY REQUIREMENTS, IN THE PARTNER STATES. THE SUMMIT FURTHER DIRECTED THE PARTNER STATES TO CONSIDER BANNING THE EXPORT OF RAW HIDES AND SKINS OUTSIDE THE EAC REGION.
THE SUMMIT, BEING DESIRIOUS OF PROMOTING VERTICALLY INTEGRATED INDUSTRIES IN THE TEXTILE AND LEATHER SECTOR, DIRECTED THE PARTNER STATES TO PROCURE THEIR TEXTILE AND FOOTWEAR REQUIREMENTS FROM WITHIN THE REGION WHERE QUALITY AND SUPPLY CAPACITIES ARE AVAILABLE COMPETITIVELY, WITH A VIEW TO PHASING OUT IMPORTATION OF USED TEXTILE AND FOOT WEAR WITHIN THREE YEARS. THE SUMMIT DIRECTED THE PARTNER STATES TO SENSITIZE ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO PROVIDE THE SUMMIT WITH AN ANNUAL REVIEW WITH A VIEW TO FAST TRACKING THE PROCESS.