Star Garments opens state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Togo
Daily FT: Star Garments Group, a powerhouse in Sri Lanka’s apparel industry and part of Charles Komar and Sons, officially inaugurated its groundbreaking textile manufacturing facility at the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA) in Togo.
The ceremony, presided over by Togo Council President Faure Gnassingbé, marks a transformative milestone for both the company and West Africa’s textile industry.
This historic inauguration represents Star Garments’ first manufacturing expansion outside of Sri Lanka, positioning Togo as a strategic gateway for the company’s global growth and the development of West Africa as a new hub for apparel manufacturing. Sri Lanka will continue serving as the company’s service centre, with operations expanding to support Star’s integrated global manufacturing network.
The 3.7-hectare facility will create 2,000 direct employment opportunities for Togolese nationals, with over 60 percent of positions designated for women. This significant job creation initiative extends beyond immediate employment, with projections indicating up to 4,520 direct and indirect jobs by 2030, fundamentally transforming the local economic landscape.
Charles Komar & Sons CEO Charlie Komar said: “This is more than just a factory. It represents a long-term commitment—Komar’s commitment to the people of Togo—for jobs, training, and elevating global production standards based on dignity and excellence. The choice of Togo is no coincidence. We chose this country because we see a rising nation, a government focused on economic stability, infrastructure development, and investment appeal.”
The facility’s comprehensive training programs will equip Togolese workers with world-class manufacturing skills, creating a skilled workforce that enhances the country’s industrial capacity. These initiatives align with Togo’s national development objectives while establishing sustainable career pathways for local talent.
Investment Promotion Minister Manuella Santos praised the inauguration, stating: “Backed by over 40 years of textile expertise, Star Garments chose Togo as its first location outside Sri Lanka—an important signal for our country and a strong vote of confidence in our industrial vision.”
At full operational capacity, the facility can produce fifty thousand garments daily, specialising in nightwear, loungewear, and layered garments serving international markets. The facility’s focus on export-oriented production will generate significant foreign exchange earnings for Togo while establishing the country as a competitive player in the global textile market.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, which is among the key revenue generators to the country, is also on a steady growth path. The strength and growth of Sri Lanka’s apparel businesses are evident by the many overseas expansion programmes undertaken by local businesses in the apparel industry and related sectors. The many trade agreements and trade concessions enjoyed by Sri Lanka with many foreign countries have helped boost the local apparel industry as well as related sectors. Foreign businesses/investors could therefore explore the expanding opportunities in Sri Lanka’s apparel industry and related sectors while also looking at forming partnerships or joint ventures with local businesses in the apparel industry with the aim of further expanding operations locally and internationally. The fast-evolving global apparel and fashion industry has made it important for Sri Lankan apparel businesses to also be on par with the evolution opening more business/investment opportunities in providing raw materials as well as the increasing technologies. All these developments mean that Sri Lanka’s apparel industry and related sectors provide a host of lucrative business ventures.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20250702/Z_7 |