Many African nations launched an intensive sales campaign to capture a major slice of the world textile market with the opening of the first International Textile and Garment Show of Abidjan on Saturday (20 September).

Maurice Gnoleba, the Minister of Commerce for the Ivory Coast, opened the show, where a wide variety of textile products and ready-to-wear fashions for men and women were displayed.

Countries represented included: the Central African Republic, Ghana, the Ivory Coast, the Congo, Dahomey, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Swaziland, Togo, and Zaire. The Malagasy Republic and Mauritius were also represented. Over sixty manufacturers had products on display.

The show -- which ends on Tuesday (23 September) attracted many important international buyers from North America and Europe. they were invited after a major pre-show, international publicity campaign.

Officials explained the campaign was a curtain raiser for establishing African manufactured textiles in the forefront of the international garment and textile industry.

First reports from Abidjan indicated that the hopes of the show organisers for important orders were not wide of the mark. Observers said that several buyers showed keen interest. They were said to be impressed with the style, variety and competitive price of both garments and textiles.

A highlight of the opening was a fashion show with models displaying ready-to-wear clothes by several African designers.

The European Common Market was also involved in launching the show and co-operated with the organisers, who hope that the event will boost the economic life of Abidjan -- and establish it as an important centre for the African textile industry.