Star Garments Group Limited, a subsidiary of the American company Charles Komar & Sons, has secured a $15 million loan (around 9 billion FCFA) from the International Finance Corporation (IFC) to set up Togo’s first large-scale, export-oriented garment manufacturing plant.
The IFC announced the news on Monday July 8. According to the World Bank’s private sector arm, the project could create 4,500 direct and indirect jobs, mainly for women, by 2030.
The project, announced at the end of 2023, will be housed at the Industrial Platform of Adétikopé (PIA) in Lomé. The factory will produce “cut-make-trim” garments and adhere to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards, ensuring optimal environmental and health performance.
“Our factory in Togo will offer our customers an integrated ‘farm to finished product’ process that few destinations in the world can offer,” said A. Sukumaran, Managing Director of Star Garments Group.
This project marks the first venture for Charles Komar & Sons and Star Garments in Africa, aiming to diversify the company’s production base.
“IFC is proud to partner with Star Garments to support job creation, exports, and industrial development in Togo,” said Josiane Kwenda, IFC Regional Manager for Togo, highlighting West Africa’s potential to become a textile industry hub.
IFC’s strategic priorities in Togo include agriculture, transport, energy, and digital technology. Its current investment portfolio in the country amounts to $131 million.
Komar is a global leader in the design, sourcing, manufacturing and distribution of apparel.