Mauritius should soon become the main textile supplier in the region. To reach this objective, three spinning mills will be set up at Latour Koenig. RS Denim will start its activities next January while the construction of Toptex Ltd will begin in July 2007 and that of Octagon in September 2007. All in all, the three factories will create some 1,200 jobs.

The project of R. S Denim Ltd has already been approved by the Board of Investment (BOI). Rs 1 billion will be invested to produce 18 million metres of denim fabric every year.

Factory equipment for Denim R.S has already started arriving from South Africa and the rest from the United States and Germany should be here in September. The general manager of the company, Beas Cheekhooree, asserts that the mixture of US and European expertise will help to achieve very high standard fabrics.

About 60% of the production will be exported to Europe and the US and the remaining 40% will be for the local market.

Toptex Ltd, a Pakistani company, will invest about Rs 700 million in its factory at Pointe-aux-Sables. This project has also been approved by the BOI. The 6,000 tons of thread produced yearly will be for the local market.

As for Octagon, an Indian firm, it will invest Rs 800 million. The BOI is studying its request for an investment certificate. During the first year, the factory will produce 4,500 tons of thread but it intends to double its production afterwards.