NEW UNIT IN TEXTILE INDUSTRY FORTITUDO IN TRAVNIK



The textile industry Fortitudo Ltd in Travnik officially opened a new unit for the production of men's high-end jacket on 8 October 2015.

The unit was opened by the FBiH Prime Minister Fadil Novalić, the representative of the German partner Peter Gross and the owner of AS GROUP Suleiman Hrvić.

In the restoration of production facilities and purchase of equipment it was invested about two million BAM. Thanks to cutting-edge technology for sewing and ironing jacket, the capacity of the new production line Fortitude is 5,000 pieces per month.

"Today in Fortitude there are more than 800 workers and they sew suits and coats for the world's best brands. Until two years ago there was not a single worker. This success is even greater, because more than 800 families are making a living in Travnik of this project. This example is evidence that success in BiH is very possible and can serve to others who have the entrepreneurial spirit, vision and capital to invest and launch similar factories. Long ago the government stopped to open factories. Today businessmen do it. AS group has developed a new concept of development" said the Prime Minister Novalić.

From November 2012 Fortitudo operates within the AS Group from Tešanj and was built on the foundations of a former textile giant Borac.

It provides services of making high quality men's suits, blazers, coats, and women's coats and raincoats, for the three major overseas buyers Carl Gross, Drykorn and Burberry. It exports to Germany, Italy, Sweden, China and America.

"BiH is a small country, so its inclusion in the international market is a prerequisite for its development. That is why one of the main determinants of strategic development of the textile industry should be the construction and development of export-oriented production programs. I believe that the AS GROUP and Fortitudo with their work and enthusiasm will meet its goal to become the European centre for the production of garments and provide services for renowned European and international ready-made brands, "the prime minister Central Bosnia Canton (SBK) Tahir Lendo stated.

Mr Hrvić spoke about the successful development of Fortitudo in the name of AS GROUP, saying that the investment in the textile business started in 2008, with the purchase of the company Napredak from Tešanj.

He explained : "Due to increased demands for the production of our customer Carl Gross from Germany in mid-2011, we decided to expand the capacity. After numerous meetings and negotiations with the Government of FBiH, we were able to arrange production in Borac. We started with a daily capacity of 200 suits. It was hard but we believed that we would succeed. Year after year, we increased production, and this has allowed us to invest in equipment and decoration of rooms. Today, Fortitudo produces 850 suits every day and more than 300 Burberry coats, "he said, adding that the plan is for Fortitudo to grow into a modern European company, with a modern machine park and facilities, and excellent workforce”.