Chinese Investor Looking to Employ 4,200 Kenyans After Deal With Local Company

A Chinese firm is looking to hire 4,200 tailors as part of a partnership with local parastatal Rivatex East Africa. 

The Chinese investor, GTAHC Industrial Park (EPZ) Limited, has injected Ksh600 million in the partnership that is aimed to help Rivatex increase production for fabrics and garments for export to the United States. 

The Chinese company will help in sourcing modern machine and second technical experts to enhance Rivatex's production.

It is estimated that American textile retailers have an unmet demand for 1.5 million textile pieces from Kenya - with Rivatex’s partnership with the Chinese investor projected to increase revenues by Ksh2 billion annually. 

“We are out to share experiences including seconding of expertise to boost the manufacture of quality fabrics that meet AGOA markets in order to increase profitability and create employment opportunities,” 

“There is high demand for textile products in the American market and Rivatex has modern machines to produce high-quality products and exploit such opportunities to expand its businesses,” GTAHC Industrial Park (EPZ) Limited representative Wang Wang noted. 

AGOA refers to the African Growth and Opportunity Act - an American legislation that provides eligible sub-Saharan African countries with duty-free access to the U.S. market for over 1,800 products.

Rivatex Managing Director Prof Thomas Kipkurgat welcomed the deal, noting that the parastatal will increase its staff to 3,000 from the current 1,400 - and create several other jobs for local tailors through the partnership with the Chinese firm. 

Also Read: What Next After eTIMS Deadline? - Money Weekly News

Further, Kipkurgat noted that the development would be a boost for local cotton farmers as Rivatex has already purchased 348 tonnes of cotton to meet the increased production demands. 

The development will likely boost the local employment sector - particularly among low-skilled youth workers who are the most affected by unemployment. 

The development also comes a few days after one of the leading banks in Kenya announced that it would be on a hiring craze as it seeks to recruit 400 employees new workers across the country. 

KCB announced that it was growing its digital banking and innovation arm by hiring 400 new employees by the end of the year 2024. 

Also Read: NTSA, Police Crackdown on Cars With Modifications