INTRODUCTION

FILTISAC  S. A. (Filature, Tissage, Sac – Société Anonyme) was established in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, West Africa in 1965 under the network of IPS WA (Industrial Promotion Services, West Africa), an Institution of the Aga Khan Fund for Economic Development (AKFED).

AKFED’s mandate is to promote economic development projects which raise the standard of living and contribute to economic development in countries in the developing world.

Working in partnership with other private development institutions, government agencies and industrial groups, AKFED promotes projects which must meet two criteria:

First, they must be economically viable;

Second – and equally important – they must make significant contribution to the national development.

IPS WA has some thirty companies employing more than 6,000 people in Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso and Senegal. It has an annual turnover of about US $ 300 million and operates in six major fields of activities: Packaging for Transportation, Packaging, Metals, Agro-Industry, Infrastructures, and Small and Medium Businesses.

Ivory Coast is the worlds largest Cocoa producer and among the top five Coffee producers.

The Cocoa and Coffee beans are exported exclusively in jute bags. In order to accompany the growth of cocoa and coffee exports and to ensure adequate, timely and good standard quality jute bags for packaging, IPS launched its first project, FILTISAC S.A. in 1965 under an Agreement between the Government of Ivory Coast and Industrial Promotion Services. This Project is the direct result of the close and fraternal relationship that existed between the late Ivory Coast President Felix Houphouet-Boigny and His Highness the Aga Khan.

THE COMPANY

FILTISAC is located in Abidjan at the address given below. It is installed on an area of land of approximately 102 acres, comprising of the factory, raw material and finished goods warehouses, the offices, the socio-medical structures, the sport facilities and residential accommodation.

FILTISAC started production in 1967 with the traditional jute mill machinery with a production capacity of five million bags per year. The main innovation was the installation of the circular looms during the start up of the factory. These have now been replaced with high speed ultra modern looms weaving in parallel at the same time, multiple cloths giving excellent quality and productivity. Similarly the other processing machinery from the raw material to finished product stages has been replaced with the latest technology machines to ensure high quality production.

A small unit for the production and export of high quality Jute Yarn & Twine for the Carpet Industry is also part of the FILTISAC Unit.

To ensure these qualitative standards of production, good quality raw jute is imported from Bangladesh.

To meet the local demand of packaging for coffee and cocoa beans and other agricultural products, the industrial modernisation strategy began in 1986. Over the years substantial innovative investments have been made and continue to take place. Today the Jute Mill has a capacity of thirty million bags per year. Parallel to these activities, research, maintenance and quality control methods are given top priority to produce high quality products at international efficiencies and productivity ratios. Strict quality control and budgeting is undertaken at all stages of production to ensure quality products at the most economic levels.

The factory employs around 1200 workmen working in three shifts.

In order to meet International Standards for packaging of Cocoa and Coffee, FILTISAC has been producing all jute bags using Vegetable Oil since 1998. In view of all these factors, FILTISAC has obtained the ISO 9002 certificate in 1997 and the ISO 9003 certification in the year 2003.

The Management of the Company is undertaken by highly qualified and experienced Expatriates and Ivorian Personnel in the fields of Finance, Production, Sales, etc.

A Management Committee reviews, analyses and takes all necessary actions on regular basis to ensure sound and efficient functioning of the Company.

The particulars of the Company are as follows:

FILTISAC S.A.

Km. 8, Route d’Adzopé

01 B.P. 3962

Abidjan 01

Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast)

West Africa

Persons to contact:

Mr André FROISSARD / Managing Director

Mr Lassina KEITA  / Business Operations Director

Tel :  (225) 20 30 46 00 / 20 30 46 77 /  20 30 46 07 / 20 30 46 02

Fax : (225) 20 30 46 46  /  20 30 46 11  / 20 30 46 12 / 20 30 46 75

E-mail     :     info@filtisac.com

Web Site :     www.filtisac.com