Cone Denim Opens Nicaragua Facility

Greensboro, N.C.-based International Textile Group Inc.’s (ITG’s) Cone Denim division celebrated the opening of its new state-of-the-art, fully vertical manufacturing facility near Managua, Nicaragua, last month. With an annual capacity of some 28 million yards, Cone Denim Nicaragua (CDN) will employ about 850 people to process raw cotton fiber into finished denim fabric.

“ITG Cone Denim is leading the industry as the first global denim fabric manufacturer to have operations in Central America,” said Wilbur L. Ross Jr., ITG’s chairman. “We recognized early on the significance of this region to our customers and the competitive value it brings. We are excited to be a part of the growth and new opportunities here.”

Guests at the ceremony included Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega S.; retired General Alvardo Baltodano C., technical secretary of the National Free Zone Commission for Nicaragua; Paul Trivelli, US ambassador to Nicaragua; ITG President and CEOJoseph L. Gorga; ITG Cone Denim President Thomas E. McKenna; and numerous other government and company officials.

“Our focus over the past year has been on expanding our footprint and putting in place the strategic pieces of an extensive global supply chain,” Gorga said. “CDN provides our customers advanced manufacturing capabilities in a cost-competitive platform.” 

Cone Denim’s global manufacturing platform includes facilities in the United States, Mexico and China; and partnerships in India and Turkey.

April 29, 2008