7 textile industries vow to invest $40.5M, create 1,500 jobs
Earlier this year, Gov. Luis Fortuño toured the MM Manufacturing facilities in Lajas, one of seven companies in expansion mode. (Credit: La Fortaleza/Alex Rafael Román)
In the last 36 months, the Puerto Rico Industrial Development Company has helped to promote seven companies in the textile industry that have vowed to invest $40.5 million and create 1,582 direct jobs, Executive Director José Pérez-Riera said Thursday.
“Our promotional work has focused on small and medium enterprises, mainly from local capital,” said Pérez-Riera, who is also Economic Development and Commerce secretary.
“The needle sector remains relevant in manufacturing, so Pridco will continue to create new programs and initiatives to achieve the sector’s permanence and growth.”
The companies that will be growing through investments are: Seamless Puerto Rico, with operations in Humacao and Camuy; Pentaq Manufacturing Corp, in Sabana Grande; Koman Propper LLC, in Las Marías; Quartermaster, in Añasco; Puerto Rico Apparel Manufacturing Corp., with operations in San Sebastián and Mayagüez; Propper International, in Mayagüez, Wear-Tech and MM Manufacturing, in Lajas; and Cooperativa Uniformes del Sur Inc., in Juana Díaz.
The government official said that as part of the new programs and incentives available to the local industry is the Federal Contracting Center program that provides technical advice to companies to help them in the process of doing business with the federal government.
Through the FeCC, companies that already have contracts with the federal government can access a variety of specialized services to help identify new business opportunities and greater access to the main suppliers of goods and services.
Pridco has also designed and implemented other initiatives to benefit local businesses, such as the International Design Center, to assist Pridco-promoted companies create their logos and packaging, among others, to develop their brands and corporate image. Furthermore, the agency also recently began offering the Special Shipping Incentive, intended to cover part of the costs associated with shipping cargo to the ports of Jacksonville, Caucedo (Dominican Republic) and Manzanillo (Mexico).
