Mombasa Apparels EPZ factory worth $25 million (Sh2.2b) located in Mtwapa, Kilifi County commenced operations last week. The new factory received backing of an investor in the textile manufacturing sector which will manufacture garments for the international market.

Speaking during the official opening of the new factory, Industrialisation and Enterprise Development Cabinet Secretary Adan Mohamed, said that the facility has already created 3,000 direct jobs with a potential to create another 4,000 jobs in its second phase of development.

The Government's ongoing efforts to position the country as an industrial investments destination have started receiving backing of investors. Such investments in the textiles and apparels sectors are a clear demonstration of growing investor confidence.

From a global perspective, Mohamed observed, many industrialized nations have been pioneered by the textile and apparel sectors.

The Government is focusing more on labour intensive sectors as they are the key drivers in job creation and industrialization. This year, Kenya managed to spring up as the leading and largest exporter under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) programme in sub-Saharan Africa, with exports to the tune of over $300 million and 10,000 new direct jobs created in the apparel sector.

To draw attention towards textile and apparel sector, global players in textiles and apparels are expected in the country, to participate in Origin Africa, a Pan-African event organised by the African Cotton and Textile Industries Federation (ACTIF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Industrialisation and other local and international players to discuss the future of the sector.