At the grand opening of the Jimmy Aboud Textile Centre located in San Juan on May 18, Senator the Honourable Paula Gopee-Scoon, Minister of Trade and Industry, during her Address recognised and congratulated the company for its significant contribution towards the country’s fashion sector.
The Minister said, “The opening of this new store on the East-West corridor is a progressive move, which is not only indicative of the growth in national capacity to better service the needs of the local fashion industry, but is also a clear demonstration of the strength and resilience of our economy and the confidence of the private sector to continue to expand and invest.”
Citing data from Grandview Research, a U.S. based market research and consulting company, the Minister noted that the global textile market was valued at US $1.8 billion in 2023 and it is anticipated will grow at a rate of 7.4 percent in revenue from 2024 to 2030. “This line of business is quite significant for Trinidad and Tobago, and through investments like this new facility, the country will be better-positioned to capture a greater share of the market,” she said.
The Minister participated in cutting the ribbon and unveiling the plaque alongside the President of the Downtown Owners and Merchants Association (DOMA) & Company Director Gregory Aboud and other Jimmy Aboud executives, members of staff, local designers and other stakeholders. The opening of the new store also commemorated the company’s 75th anniversary. Paying homage to his parents, Aboud shared on stories of ingenuity, resourcefulness and business acumen, which began in the early days of the business. “People were people first and buyers second,” Aboud said.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry, through its state agency Trinidad and Tobago Fashion Company or FashionTT has been supporting the development of the fashion industry over the years, via targeted interventions geared towards building capacity among fashion stakeholders. One such initiative is the Fashion Value Chain Investment Programme, which provides training to local designers at different stages of the fashion value chain where designers are able to capture export opportunities through various mechanisms including trade missions.
These initiatives have yielded significant results, with companies exporting products to various countries, including the United States, Canada, Germany, France, and Nigeria. Based on data from FashionTT, the sales of 170 designers graduating from the programme have seen remarkable growth, increasing by as much as 136 percent year over year. Notably, one of the VCIP global designers, has achieved a milestone by launching its flagship store in Paris this year, recording a significant achievement for Trinidad and Tobago’s Fashion industry and positions this country as a recognized fashion producer.
Minister also added that in September 2023, the Ministry of Trade and Industry, through FashionTT, also partnered with Jimmy Aboud to deliver training in Lutterloh Sewing techniques to local seamstresses, tailors and dressmakers. To support this Programme the Ministry sponsored 50 Lutterloh Sewing System Kits to participants. These kits assisted our local fashion stakeholders to refine their skills in pattern making and sewing, thereby building capacity in the local Fashion industry.
