20,000 new jobs are set to be created for Kenyans following multi-billion investments in the textile industry in the country.
According to a statement by the United States Embassy, President William Ruto will be unveiling a new apparel brand company in Athi River on Tuesday, April 23, 2024.
The factory, Nexgen Packaging Kenya, will be manufacturing brand identification and packaging items for apparel.
Some of the products that the company makes include hangers, patches, and woven labels which are usually found in most clothes and contain words such as made of 100 per cent cotton.
It is noted that the investments will also boost the export of apparel to the US and eventually enhance Kenya's foreign earnings.
Notably, the Embassy noted that the factory has received some grant from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to set up shop.
"The event will feature a “Made In Kenya” expo, showcasing 14 Kenyan apparel and textile businesses that have received direct support from the United States.
"The event will also highlight USAID’s investments in Kenya's textile and apparel sector, resulting in Ksh8 billion (USD67 million) in investment that will create 20,000 new jobs and an additional Ksh44 billion (USD330 million) in potential apparel exports," read the statement in part.
Notably, the investment by Nexgen was announced in December 2022.
At the time, the company noted that it would concentrate on care labels, heat transfers, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags, and woven labels among others.
"This investment is committed to bringing a comprehensive set of capabilities and product offerings to the African market with a significant focus on sustainable solutions.
"Kenya will serve as our primary production location for Africa and will add to the capabilities and capacities of our operations in Ethiopia, Egypt, and West Africa," read the statement part.
