Seabata Mahao
At least 250 people will be employed following the expansion of the Jiao Yang textile factory in Maputsoe, Leribe district.
The factory produces shoes, boots, and other items, with workers sewing 1,000 pairs daily.
The expansion was officially inaugurated by the Minister of Trade, Industry, and Small Business Development, Mokhethi Shelile, this week in collaboration with the Lesotho National Development Corporation (LNDC).
In his remarks, Shelile highlighted the positive relationship between firm management, LNDC, and staff, which has contributed to the factory’s growth.
“When the relationship between management and employees is strong, it leads to the growth of businesses,” Shelile said.
He also announced that another factory producing shoes and clothing would open in the Maputsoe area by December. He acknowledged ongoing challenges related to water and electricity but assured that these issues were being addressed.
“The government is committed to ending poverty and ensuring a better life for the people of Lesotho,” he stated.
Puseletso Makhakhe, who spoke on behalf of the LNDC CEO, echoed the minister’s sentiments on the importance of expansion in terms of poverty reduction and economic growth.
“Many women have been working here since 2019, and we are proud of this expansion as it provides jobs for Basotho,” she said.
Makhakhe also thanked the employees for their dedication and highlighted LNDC’s successful management of the factory.
“If other factory workers follow your example, they too will see growth. Our current investors should attract more investors to the country,” Makhakhe added.
Jiao Yang factory manager, Jonathan Huang, praised the Basotho workforce for their hard work and dedication, which he credited for the factory’s successful expansion.
“Our visibility and success are due to the commitment of the Basotho people. Without their hard work, we would not have achieved this expansion,” Huang said.
However, Huang noted ongoing challenges, such as delays in goods transportation due to floods and electricity issues that have not occurred in the last 23 years.
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