Star Garment Secures $15 Million IFC Loan to Open Factory in Togo

Investments

Tuesday, 09 July 2024 16:53

Star Garment Secures $15 Million IFC Loan to Open Factory in Togo

(Togo First) - 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 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.

Announced at the end of 2023, the project 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.

Ayi Renaud Dossavi

REFORMS OVERVIEW

STARTING A BUSINESS (more info)

At the fifteenth position, worldwide, and first in Africa, under the Starting a Business index of the 2020 Doing Business ranking, Togo sustains its reformative dynamics with more reforms….

ENFORCING CONTRACTS (more info)

Compared to some years ago when it was one of the lowest rankers under the Doing Business’ Enforcing Contracts indicator, Togo, leveraging many efforts to improve its business climate, was able to jump significantly on the index in the recent years... .

CONTRACT EXECUTION (more info)

Creation of special chambers of commerce for small debts • Creation of chambers of commerce at the Court of Appeal • Civil and commercial cases now handled by distinct clerks • Establishment of commercial courts in Lomé and Kara • Lawyers and bailiffs now have access to the FORSETI COMMERCIAL platform • A maximum period of 100 days was fixed to settle a commercial dispute .

TRADING ACROSS BORDERS (more info)

In comparison to previous years,Togo has significantly improved its ranking under the“Trading across borders” indicator by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

In comparison to previous years, Togo has significantly improved its ranking on the “Trading across borders” index by adopting multiple reforms that focus mainly on the digitalization and reduction in delays, for import and export procedures related to import and export.

CONSTRUCTION PERMIT (more info)

After moving from the 133rd to 127th place under the 2020 Doing Business’ construction permit index, Togo intends to reiterate this feat in the coming edition of the global ranking. To this end, it has introduced this year multiple reforms.

GETTING ELECTRICITY (more info)

Over the past two years, Togo’s ranking under the Doing Business’ Getting electricity and water indicator has increased consistently. Owing this performance to multiple reforms aimed at making it easier for businesses to access power and water, Lomé plans to introduce even more reforms this year to keep up its improvements.

REGISTERING A PROPERTY (more info)

Out of all the 'Doing Business’ indicators, Property Registration is where Togo has improved the most since 2018. Indeed, after spending years in the lowest part of this ranking, the country now seeks to beat Rwanda which is the best performer on this index in Africa. To do so, Lomé has been introducing many reforms, with the latest batch implemented this year.

PUBLIC PROCUREMENT (more info)

From professionalization to digitization, through legislative regulations, Togo’s public procurement framework is constantly being modernized. Several reforms have been implemented to improve the sector much to the benefit of the private sector, which is the focus of the National Development Plan.

PAYING TAXES AND DUTIES (more info)

To improve its business environment, Togo introduced some important reforms related to the payment of tax and duties. From the replacement of some taxes to the cancellation of others through exemptions, the country has only one objective: offer the most attractive tax framework to investors and economic operators. To achieve this, the authorities relied on digitization.