WestPoint Home, one of the world’s oldest and leading textile companies, is poised to launch phase two of its new towel production line in Bahrain, pending the finalisation of the GCC–UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The company’s recent expansion, which represents an additional $5 million investment and has created nine new jobs for Bahraini nationals, will significantly grow its presence in the kingdom. WestPoint Home’s existing operations already boast an investment of over $165m since 2006 and employ approximately 1,300 people, including 101 Bahrainis across key engineering and corporate roles.
The announcement comes following the inauguration of phase one of the towel line at the company’s state-of-the-art complex, making it the only single-site manufacturer of both high-quality linens and towels in the Middle East.
The planned phase two expansion is strategically timed to capitalise on the upcoming GCC-UK FTA. This next step will enable WestPoint Home to dramatically boost its export capacity and sales into the United Kingdom market.
WestPoint Home president and chief executive Jonathan Storie confirmed the readiness for future growth. “We are hopeful the duty situation will change soon, and the moment the GCC and UK Free Trade Agreement is finalised, we’re prepared to launch phase two and manufacture towels for the UK as well,” he said.
The new production line, which was inaugurated jointly by Sustainable Development Minister and Bahrain Economic Development Board chief executive officer Noor Al Khulaif and Industry and Commerce Minister Abdulla bin Adel Fakhro, was built to meet long-standing customer requests.
“Our $5m investment is directly tied to customer demand,” Mr Storie told the GDN. “For years, our clients have asked us to produce towels, and this expansion allows us to finally do that, complementing our existing bed linen line. We can now produce up to 10,000 bath towels per day.”
Phase one currently targets the GCC market with future plans for export to the US, and will produce 4m towels annually. The new line reflects the company’s commitment to sustainability and further strengthens Bahrain’s reputation as a strategic base for global, high-quality manufacturing.
US Embassy chargé d’affaires Elizabeth Litchfield acknowledged the company’s impact, saying: “For nearly two decades US investment from WestPoint Home has supported innovation and benefited the US-Bahrain manufacturing sector.”
The Bahrain facility is a vital hub, supplying major international markets including the GCC, United States, United Kingdom, and Europe, and has exported over $1bn in products to the US alone since its establishment.
avinash@gdnmedia.bh
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