The company VEBA - textile factories, thanks to the knowledge of the local market, has developed its unique product for „the black continent“, the so-called "African Brocade", which has been successfully supplying demanding clients in West Africa for several years. These firmly woven fabrics of Egyptian cotton, specially treated and decorated with African prints go to Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Mali, Democratic Republic of Congo and other surrounding countries. Only in Nigeria VEBA exports these fabrics on average for 25.000 EUR per year.

Although the volume of exports is not a large one, VEBA fabrics „the sheda“ are of considerable importance for creating awareness of the Czech Republic. For Nigerians and other Africans, wearing high quality cloths is a matter of prestige, and they invest a lot of money in their purchase. Clothes from a high quality type of African brocade opens the door. It is by far the most appropriate gift to local partners, both business and political, including top politicians such as the president and ministers. The knowledge of this "secret" is often used - the fact that the Czech company can produce a high quality African brocade ranks the Czech Republic in the eyes of Nigerians and their neighbors among the most advanced countries and becomes a memorable partner. And thanks to the long-standing effort to promote these fabrics in the sub-Saharan region, the name VEBA is becoming a well-known and well-recognized concept.

 

 

 

Written by: Beata Matusik, Economic Attaché, Embassy of the Czech Republic in Nigeria