Ayka Addis Textile & Investment Group, a subsidiary of Ayka Textile in Turkey, has opened a massive textile and manufacturing complex in Ethiopia, about 20 km. (12.4 miles) west of Addis Ababa. The company describes the $100-million complex as the biggest vertically integrated textile factory in sub-Saharan Africa. The factory, which will include spinning, knitting, dyeing and sewing operations, will produce knitted apparel.
It will employ 10,000 when it reaches full capacity, according to Ayka Textile.
The Istanbul-based company was founded in 1988 as a ready-made garment manufacturer and exporter. Ayka Textile anticipates generating more than $70 million in export sales annually from the factory.