East Africa’s first denim factory, Kanoria African Textiles Spinning, commenced trial production in Ethiopia.

It was the manager of the company, Dina Karen, that disclosed the news. According to him the factory sited at Bishoftu is the first of its kind in East Africa in terms of using modern technologies and producing fashionable jeans.

The factory is entirely owned by Indians and it is being built with over USD 43 million, Karen explained. He furthered the construction of the factory was started a year ago and it now started the trial period with 70 workers. The aim is to increase the number of workers to 350 as it goes operational.

The favorable investment atmosphere in Ethiopia and the wide market have encouraged the owners to invest in the country, Karen stated. He added expansion work will be carried out next.

Teklay Gebre-Egziabher, senior Industrial Engineer and Representative of the Ethiopian Textile Development Institute that support the factory, commented on the development saying the factory will have huge contribution in boosting the foreign currency of the country and popularizing its national brand.

According to Teklay the factory is going to have an annual capacity of producing 12 million meters of denim.

There will also be another factory that will produce inputs for Kanoria African and it will be constructed around Addis Ababa, Teklay added. The products are mainly going to be exported.

Currently there are more than 130 huge and medium textile factories in Ethiopia.

Source: Ethiopian News Agency