Apparel units raise hope of economic revival in B&H

08 Jun '13

2 min read

A new apparel manufacturing unit went operational last month in Bileca town, part of Trebinje region in southeastern Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). This, along with the likelihood of three new garment units becoming operational very soon, has raised hopes of economic revival in the region.

The opening of the new clothing unit in Belica is the first phase of the Republika Srpska (RS) government’s strategic project to develop the apparel industry in the province, according to a SETimes report.

During the inauguration of the new unit, RS Prime Minister Zeljka Cvijanovic said the government will continue working on implementing projects that would generate jobs in Herzegovina.

The Belica factory is owned by the Nikola Tesla enterprise, established by the RS government. The company plans to invest €10 million in textile and apparel manufacturing across four cities in Herzegovina.

At its Belica unit, the company has presently employed 300 workers and the government firm plans to create an additional 2,500 jobs within a year.

The new clothing units would produce women’s apparel, shirts, dresses, and some menswear items.

Nikola Tesla is finding it easy to hire employees as Herzegovina region once had several clothing factories that employed mostly women, but were closed down several years ago.

Last year, B&H’s unemployment rate stood at 44 percent, the second-highest in Europe, next to Kosovo.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India