In Gastonia, North Carolina, with the support of the United States Department of State, a partnership agreement was signed in the form of a memorandum of understanding aimed at mobilizing academic resources from participating universities as well as the textile industry.
The parties aim to use these programs to train young adults in Central America and the Northern Triangle region of the United States so that they are equipped to fill well-paying private sector jobs in the textile industry.
Supported by the National Council of Textile Organizations (NCTO), the event was attended by representatives from 25 textile and apparel producers, including Parkdale Mills, Alcatex, Sanmar and Gilden, as well as other brands and retailers, including Heinsbrands and Walmart. were involved. NC State, Unitech, Gaston College and Catawba Valley Community College were also present, thanks to the assistance of their senior academic leadership.
Vast founder, Jess Canahuti, as well as Andy and Davis Warlick represented the “Giant (Honduras, USA, Guatemala, El Salvador) Trade and Investment Council” at the launch of the Textile Workforce Development Initiative with the participation of the Under Secretary of State. United States, Jose Fernandez and the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Commerce, Jennifer Knight; Honduras, President Castro’s personal secretary, Hector Manuel Zelaya; Dean of North Carolina State University Wilson College
Textiles, Dr. David Hinks; Rector of Central American Technological University (Unitech), Dr. Marlon Antonio Brave Reyes and the President of the Honduran Textile Association, Mario Canahuti.
Andy Warlick, president and CEO of Parkdale Mills and founder of Giant, remarked during his speech that “7% of what we consume in America comes from CAFTA-DR”.
“The rest come from elsewhere, mainly from Southeast Asia, so you might be wondering: is this unrealistic, with all the supply chain issues and pollution issues caused by a freighter coming from China, what It is unimaginable that this number increases from 7% to 14%? I think it’s very possible,” he said.
“It generates billions of dollars in investment and creates millions of jobs in the region and in the United States,” he said.
well paying jobs
The association provides an opportunity for young adults in the North Triangle area to obtain well-paying jobs that contribute to a good quality of life.
With the growth of their human capacity and productivity, near-term opportunities in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador become more attainable, as the private sector in these countries works hand-in-hand with the private sector in the United States. Since its inception, it has played a major role in bringing these parties together, supporting the implementation of such programs, and replicating this approach in other economic sectors.
HUGE’s overall goal is to raise $10 billion in private investment to create two million new jobs in the Northern Triangle countries and the United States over a five-year period. In the first 18 months alone, the organization raised $3.21 billion to create more than 200,000 new jobs.
Business leaders and founders of HUGE understand that the availability of desirable jobs and robust social services is essential to providing broader access to the “American Dream” at home in Honduras, Guatemala and El Salvador, thus necessitating the pursuit of is saved. United States of america.
“The Honduran Textile Industry, in conjunction with Unitech, NC State, NCTO and the United States Department of State, has begun an effort to provide equipment to hundreds of thousands of workers so that our industry can be more competitive and have access to more and better payments. Jobs.
We thank NC State and other parties involved in this great effort. We will ensure its success not only in Honduras, but throughout the Northern Triangle region,” commented Vishal’s founder, Jess Caahuti, at the end of the event.
