Business / Local
Bulawayo clothing company resumes exports to Europe
15 Dec 2015 at 00:30hrs | Views
ARCHER Clothing has resumed exports to Europe following a successful revival plan of one of Bulawayo's oldest firms by the new investor.
The resuscitation of Archer Clothing by a Harare-based clothing firm, Paramount Garments is regarded as a huge feat that has been achieved by a local company.
The revived clothing entity was on the brink of collapse since the free fall of the country's industries over the past decade.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha made the announcement last week during the just ended 15th Zanu-PF Annual People's Conference in Victoria Falls.
He said some of the local companies in Bulawayo, which was once the country's industrial hub, were on the rebound.
"Some of the companies in the country are recovering. In Bulawayo, we've companies such as Archer Clothing which has started exporting to Britain. Archer Clothing is one of the success stories that we've in Bulawayo," said Minister Bimha.
"In Bulawayo, we also have an oil expresser, United Refineries Limited, another success story, which at present is operating at 100 percent capacity utilisation," he added.
At its peak, the clothing firm exported to South Africa, Germany, Zambia, and Britain among other countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the European Union.
Efforts to get a comment from Paramount Garments managing director Jeremy Youmans were futile as he had not responded to written questions by the time of going to print yesterday.
In August, Youmans said they were at an advanced stage of completing Archer Clothing's re-fabrication and refurbishment factory so as to embark on a full-fledged production.
Apart from investing in the re-fabrication and refurbishment of its factory, the company also set up a training school within its plant to fill the gap that had been left due to shortages of some skills.
Early this year, the clothing firm was saved from liquidation after creditors approved its take-over by Paramount Garments.
The take-over negotiations between the two companies started in 2013 after they initially entered into a cut, make and trim arrangement.
Under the deal, the Harare firm supplied clothing material and labour while Archer provided the working space.
Following the revival plan, the new investor has increased the workforce at Archer to 631 from 30 last year.
The firm which is targeting a workforce of 850 people by the end of next year, employed about 1,600 workers at its peak a few years ago.
The resuscitation of Archer Clothing by a Harare-based clothing firm, Paramount Garments is regarded as a huge feat that has been achieved by a local company.
The revived clothing entity was on the brink of collapse since the free fall of the country's industries over the past decade.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha made the announcement last week during the just ended 15th Zanu-PF Annual People's Conference in Victoria Falls.
He said some of the local companies in Bulawayo, which was once the country's industrial hub, were on the rebound.
"Some of the companies in the country are recovering. In Bulawayo, we've companies such as Archer Clothing which has started exporting to Britain. Archer Clothing is one of the success stories that we've in Bulawayo," said Minister Bimha.
"In Bulawayo, we also have an oil expresser, United Refineries Limited, another success story, which at present is operating at 100 percent capacity utilisation," he added.
At its peak, the clothing firm exported to South Africa, Germany, Zambia, and Britain among other countries in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa and the European Union.
Efforts to get a comment from Paramount Garments managing director Jeremy Youmans were futile as he had not responded to written questions by the time of going to print yesterday.
In August, Youmans said they were at an advanced stage of completing Archer Clothing's re-fabrication and refurbishment factory so as to embark on a full-fledged production.
Apart from investing in the re-fabrication and refurbishment of its factory, the company also set up a training school within its plant to fill the gap that had been left due to shortages of some skills.
Early this year, the clothing firm was saved from liquidation after creditors approved its take-over by Paramount Garments.
The take-over negotiations between the two companies started in 2013 after they initially entered into a cut, make and trim arrangement.
Under the deal, the Harare firm supplied clothing material and labour while Archer provided the working space.
Following the revival plan, the new investor has increased the workforce at Archer to 631 from 30 last year.
The firm which is targeting a workforce of 850 people by the end of next year, employed about 1,600 workers at its peak a few years ago.
Source - chronicle
