[2020-03-11] Angola is the largest consumer of used clothes from Europe and the United States

Source: Macauhub

Angola is the world’s largest importer of used clothing (bales) from Europe and the United States because of a lack of textile production in the country, said on Tuesday, in the municipality of Viana, Luanda, the director-general of the Industrial Development Institute, Adérito Van-Dúnem.

The official was speaking during the opening of the first round table on the issue of second-hand clothes in Angola, organised by the Association for Consumer Protection (Adecor) held at Casa da Juventude.

Van-Dúnem said that these bales of clothing were for the neediest part of the population and benefitted from customs tax exemptions and do not contribute to job creation or tax revenues to the State.

The director-general of the Industrial Development Institute said that currently its purpose had been undermined, and the import of second-hand clothes had become a business rather than being donated or given out for free.

He noted that in recent years, China had started competing for the second-hand clothes business with more competition, which decreased the import of European and American used clothes.

“Angola imports new clothing valued at approximately US$170 million and used clothing estimated at US$65 million, resources that could be saved if the textile industries of the country were fully operational,’’ he said.

The meeting, as part of the 58th anniversary of World Consumer Day on 15 March, discussed issues such as the legal status of importation of used products in Angola and the role of the Inspectorate General of Commerce in inspecting used products in Angola.