Jiao Yang Textile Factory in Maputsoe, Leribe, has expanded its operations, increasing its workforce from 500 to 750 employees. The factory officially opened its expanded wing on Tuesday, marking a significant step in local job creation.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Trade Minister Mokhethi Shelile celebrated the factory’s expansion as the second new factory in Maputsoe this quarter. “There are three more in the pipeline to be opened by the end of this year,” Shelile announced, highlighting the positive impact this would have on employment.
Shelile called on the Basotho business community to take advantage of the growing opportunities in the textile sector. “Opportunities are awaiting the locals in the textile industry, and it does not have to be foreigners who grab them,” he emphasized.
He urged Basotho entrepreneurs to work together to establish more factories and create additional jobs.
Shelile also stressed the importance of local workers taking pride in their jobs to attract more foreign investment. “If Basotho take care of their work, more investors will be willing to come and open factories here, which will lead to even more employment for our people,” he said.
Puseletso Makhakhe, General Manager for Investment and Trade Promotion at the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC), explained that the expansion builds on Jiao Yang’s operations, which began in 2019. “This newly expanded factory is expected to hire 250 more workers, focusing on sewing trousers and dresses,” Makhakhe noted, adding that the growth signals investor confidence in the local industry.
Makhakhe also encouraged Basotho workers to safeguard their jobs to ensure continued improvements in their lives and the growth of the industry.
Jiao Yang General Manager, Jonathan Huang, expressed optimism about investing in Lesotho’s textile sector. “We like to invest in the textile industry as foreign investors because we have seen that Basotho are highly skilled and understand the industry,” Huang said.
However, he acknowledged challenges in the expansion process. “The expansion took more time than we had planned,” Huang revealed, citing issues with electricity and water connectivity as major hurdles. He mentioned that these infrastructural concerns have been reported to the LNDC, as they could deter potential investors.
On behalf of the workers, ’Mamachoabola Sekhoacha hailed the factory’s expansion as a victory for the community. “This is a great achievement for Jiao Yang, which has already employed 500 workers,” Sekhoacha said, expressing gratitude to Minister Shelile for his efforts in reducing unemployment. “People are faced with poverty, and this kind of job creation is exactly what we need.”
