After a much-talked-about fallout with the Kerala government a few years ago, Kitex Garments seems to be turning its focus entirely towards Telangana. The company has now launched what it calls a mega recruitment drive, looking to fill over 25,000 positions at its upcoming manufacturing plants in Warangal and Sitarampur.
This includes jobs across all levels — from vice presidents and general managers to supervisors, engineers, and factory floor workers. Both skilled and unskilled candidates appear to be in demand. Those interested have been asked to apply via the company’s website within two weeks.
Kitex had earlier announced that it would be investing over ₹3,000 crore in Telangana. If things go as planned, this would reportedly be part of a larger vision to set up what could become the world’s largest garment manufacturing facility.
The recruitment seems to be linked to this expansion. Trial runs at the new plants have reportedly been completed, and operations might begin in the coming months — though there’s been no official confirmation on exact dates.
Until a couple of years ago, Kitex was one of the major industrial employers in Kerala, particularly around Kochi, where over 9,000 people were on its payroll. Back in 2021, the company had even announced a ₹3,500 crore investment in the state. But things soon took a different turn.
Sabu M Jacob, Kitex’s chairman and managing director, had alleged that the company faced constant harassment from various government departments in Kerala. Following that, Kitex withdrew its investment plans and decided to look elsewhere — a move that caused quite a stir at the time.
The flashpoint, according to some, was political. Kitex had supported candidates who defeated both the Left and the Congress-led alliances in the Kizhakkambalam Panchayat elections, and it’s been speculated that this didn’t go down well with mainstream political parties.
Whatever the reason, the Kerala investment plan was shelved, and the company packed its bags.
It was around the same time that the then Telangana Industries Minister K.T. Rama Rao reportedly invited Kitex to explore opportunities in his state. Due to Covid restrictions at the time, Sabu M Jacob was flown to Telangana in a government-arranged private jet.
Kitex first announced a ₹1,000 crore investment there, which was later raised to ₹3,000 crore. Construction of the new plants began in Warangal and Sitarampur, with the company initially aiming to start production by December 2024. While the timeline appears to have been pushed back, reports suggest that the units are now nearly ready.
If everything unfolds as expected, Telangana could be home to one of the largest textile manufacturing hubs in the country. And for Kerala, it might be a reminder of an industrial opportunity that slipped away.