One of Mozambique's largest textile factories Texlom in the southern city of Matola has resumed operations after being paralyzed for several years, according to local media AIM on Monday.
After an investment of about 2.5 million U.S. dollars by the new owners, the Aga Khan Foundation, the factory, now renamed Moztex, is currently operating on an experimental basis.
The factory now employs 260 workers, mostly young girls, but plans to employ about 700 people when it starts full operations. All the workers went through a training course before they were admitted.
Mozambican Minister of Industry and Trade Antonio Fernando visited the factory on Friday and was impressed with the type of technologies installed.
"We hope that these young girls who were and are being trained will assimilate the techniques being taught, because this kind of work demands a lot of efficiency", said Fernando during his visit.
The products of the factory, using machinery imported from Singapore and Japan, will be sold on the European, American, and South African markets. Fernando believed that the Mozambican goods will be competitive.
Representative of the Aga Khan Foundation Rahim Bangy said that two production lines have already been installed, and others will follow. "Our machinery is top quality, and thus we believe that our goods will be well accepted", he said.
