The German factory, which was to produce fiberglass components, was announced in August 2014 and opened in August 2015 in the Technological Industrial Development Zone Shtip. The company was registered in Macedonia in December 2014.
Technical Textiles, according to announcements, is an investment of about 15 million euros, and it was expected to produce various fiberglass components that are used in construction, aviation and the automotive industry.
The founding capital of the company was 5 thousand euros, while their assets for 2015 amounted to 8.9 million euros. Their non-current assets were 5.5 million euros. Technical Textiles is a recipient of state aid and it is to employ 500-600 people by 2018.
Owner of the German Technical Textiles, Jens Wendland, stated at the opening of the new factory that in addition to the hundred employees who were working there at the time, the company was planning to employ 200 more by the end of 2015. However, according to data from the Central Register, by the end of 2015, the number of employees was several times lower than the projected one, with 66 workers; by the end of 2016, the company had employed 112 people.
One of Wendland’s statements is quite interesting. It explains how he was on his way towards Abu Dhabi to sign a contract for a new production plant, when he read about Macedonia in a world-renowned magazine and immediately changed his flight.
"In May last year, I was on a plane to Abu Dhabi to sign a contract for the construction of a new production plant, more specifically for this very facility where we are standing, which was to be built in Abu Dhabi. At that moment, I read a small article on Macedonia in this world economy magazine. It said it offered good investment opportunities. So, I decided to change my flight immediately and visit Macedonia, so I could get more detailed information on investing in your country," said Wendland in 2015.
Wendland also showed his fascination with Macedonia, by posting a photograph he had set as his main photo on Facebook, of the signing of the contract between him, Nikola Gruevski and Viktor Mizo.
He did not respond to BIRN's requests for a meeting to offer information on why he had chosen Macedonia as the location for his factory and what his investment plans are for the future.