Underwear Factory

JEDDAH, 23 February 2003 — An SR12 million garment factory is to open here next week to supply the local and regional markets with men’s and women’s underwear. The facility, first of its kind in Jeddah, will provide employment for more than 100 Saudis, 85 percent of them women. Muhammad Sulaiman Al-Basha, the factory’s chairman, said the production unit would be a step forward in the Saudization process as well as adding much-needed competition to the market. The management decided to train staff early by bringing in design professionals from all over the world to open the door for innovation, Al-Basha said.