Belgian textile co. Sanders Int invests R200mn in Coega Industrial Dev Zone

24 May '05

2 min read

On May 19, 2005, Belgian textile firm Sanders International RSA with key interests in textiles, announced a R200 million investment in the Coega Industrial Development Zone.

This is the first investment secured so far by the Coega Development Corporation (CDC), which will provide employment opportunities for 1200 persons.

CDC is currently negotiating for further 75 deals with several at closing stages.

A 10-hectare site in the 40-hectare textile cluster within the zone has been alloted to Sander International RSA. Equipment (52 in numbers) will be imported from Germany and Belgium for which orders have already been placed.

In the first phase to be completed in November, about 130 will get employed in the weaving mill and finish operations, while 525 more jobs will be added when the plant dyeing and yarn facility will be completed. In the second year, the plant manpower is expected to reach the figure of 1,200.

David Molapo of I-Can Foundation, which partners Sanders as an empowerment partner informed that total financial investment, may double in future.

According to Alex Liessens, Sander International Textiles co-owner, raw materials would be imported from the Sander International Mill in Belgium during the first year or more, thereafter local manufacturing would take place. Company has already secured supply orders for the production to take place in the plant and will export output to the United States, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East.