Koforidua, June 30, GNA- Textile trainees who passed out from Koforidua Regional Technology Transfer Centre (KRTTC) of the GRATIS Foundation, have been called upon to take advantage of the President's Special Initiative (PSI) on garment to produce good quality products to compete with those on the world market.

The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Nana Adjei Boateng, made the call at the graduation of 18 youths including a male, who undertook a six-month training in production of batik and tie-and-dye at the RTTC on Tuesday. He told them to take advantage of such opportunities to promote employment and wealth creation, rather than relying solely on the public sector for employment.

Nana Adjei Boateng urged the trained ones to form co-operatives and register with the assembly to enable them to obtain micro credit financial support. He commended the Regional Gratis Foundation for its vision and commitment towards the development of the nation through the manufacturing of farming inputs, refuse containers, cereal threshers, rice and corn mills.

He observed that the government's objective of making a number of the youth self-reliant through skills acquisition was catching up fast in the municipality.

The Eastern Regional Manager of the Gratis Foundation, Mr Isaac Osei-Mensah, said 378 persons have been trained in batik, and tie and dye since 1995.

He appealed to the district assemblies, NGOs and donors to support the development of the small-scale industries by sponsoring the youth and the unemployed.

Mr Osei-Mensah called on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to contact the Centre for technical assistance required and establish agro-processing businesses. The trainees were presented with certificates.