Sri Lankan apparel and fabric conglomerate MAS Holdings has expanded its extensive operations in the South Asian and Asian region in to African continent by setting up a new apparel manufacturing venture in Kenya, ‘Just-style’ news reported.
MAS Holdings Singapore recently confirmed it will start operations in Athi River in Kenya’s Machakos County early next year.
The move is likely to create 3,000 job opportunities. Another textile firm Royal Garments Industries, operating under the export processing zone (EPZ), will also employ 2,600 more employees.
Mass Holdings encompasses a portfolio of businesses with revenue of US$1.8 billion and over 99,000 employees It is the largest apparel and textile manufacturer in South Asia with 53 manufacturing facilities across 16 countries including China, Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico and Honduras
Sri Lankan apparel and textile manufacturer MAS Holdings Singapore recently confirmed it will start operations in Athi River in Kenya’s Machakos County early next year.
The move is likely to create 3,000 job opportunities. Another textile firm Royal Garments Industries, operating under the export processing zone (EPZ), will also employ 2,600 more employees.
According to EPZ Authority chairman Paul Gicheru, all this will push up the number of employees employed in the EPZ by over 5,000.
The decisions come at a time when the country is grappling with job cuts as companies move to align their operations with a changing economic landscape, according to a Kenyan newspaper.
With an investment of Sh1.5 billion, MAS Holdings Singapore will leapfrog Hela Clothing as the largest apparel and textile manufacturer in the country. It will export apparel to the United States, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
Official figures show that the number of local employees engaged by EPZ enterprises increased by four per cent to 56,945 last year from 55,486 in 2017.
(LI)