By: Staff Writer
June 29, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, once a leading export sector and major foreign exchange earner, is currently grappling with a series of challenges, including reduced global demand, rising production costs, and stiff regional competition.
Exports have declined significantly in recent months, forcing many factories to scale down operations or temporarily shut down. Amidst this turbulence, some major players are looking overseas to diversify and sustain growth, while still retaining core operations in Sri Lanka.
In a bold move reflecting this strategy, Star Garments Group, a leading name in Sri Lanka’s apparel sector and part of U.S.-based Charles Komar and Sons, has officially launched its first overseas textile manufacturing facility in Togo, West Africa.
The new plant, located at the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA), was inaugurated in a ceremony led by Togo’s Council President Faure Gnassingbé, marking a historic milestone for both the company and the region’s emerging textile industry.
The 3.7-hectare state-of-the-art facility represents Star Garments’ first major manufacturing expansion beyond Sri Lanka, positioning Togo as a strategic hub for apparel production serving international markets.
While the new facility focuses on manufacturing, Sri Lanka will remain the company’s primary service and coordination center within its globally integrated operations.
The project is set to create 2,000 direct jobs in Togo, over 60% of which are designated for women, and is expected to generate more than 4,500 direct and indirect employment opportunities by 2030.
In addition to employment, the facility will implement extensive training programs to equip local workers with globally recognized manufacturing skills, aligning with Togo’s national industrial and development goals.
This is more than just a factory,” said Charlie Komar, CEO of Charles Komar & Sons. “It represents our long-term commitment to the people of Togo—creating jobs, providing training, and elevating global production standards with dignity and excellence. Togo was chosen for its strong focus on economic stability, infrastructure, and investment appeal.”
Togo’s Minister of Investment Promotion Manuella Santos highlighted the significance of the project, saying, “Star Garments’ decision to set up in Togo is a powerful vote of confidence in our industrial vision and development path.”
Once fully operational, the plant will produce 50,000 garments daily—focusing on nightwear, loungewear, and layered apparel—targeting global export markets.
Consistent with Star’s sustainability ethos, the Togo facility will adhere to stringent environmental practices and aim for LEED certification. It will also mirror the carbon-neutral operations that earned the company the Gold Award in the Extra-Large Textile and Garment Sector at the 2024 NCE Export Awards in Sri Lanka.
