Houssem Khemir is the founder and general manager of Altutex, a 100% textile-exporting manufacturer in the north-east Cap Bon region.

Mr. Khemir successfully completed his education as a methods technician in 1996. He gained valuable professional experience through two years of employment in textile companies.

In 1998, Mr. Khemir decided to embark on an entrepreneurial endeavor and launched Altutex with two associates. The company started its activities in a small factory in Korba with only five employees. As the general manager, he actively engaged in overseeing the entire production process and machinery maintenance. Initially, the company’s production centered on clothing tailored for pregnant women for a German buyer. Eventually, Mr. Khemir parted ways with the associates and became the sole owner of Altutex.

From the very beginning, Mr. Khemir understood the vital importance of a capable workforce and focused on building up a core group of highly reliable and experienced employees. Notably, some of these employees remained committed to the company for over 20 years.

Thanks to Mr. Khemir’s experience and the team's meticulous work, Altutex gained interest from Italian buyers. Consequently, the company has progressively increased its production capacity and hired new employees to meet the upcoming demands, mainly from the French, Italian, and German markets. At this level, the company was producing and selling denim articles to intermediate clients, which sell the company’s products to renowned brands such as Pinko, Cerruti, and Giorgio Armani. To improve its profit margins, Altutex aimed to become the direct supplier for these final customers. To do so, the company needed to comply with international standards and improve key operational performance metrics.

In 2022, JOBS helped Altutex implement a lean manufacturing program to optimize production costs and improve production efficiency. Meanwhile, the company has initiated an upgrade process to integrate a new management system according to international standards and thus meet the requirements of final clients. The company also invested in new sewing machines and production lines to increase production capacity.

With JOBS’ support, Altutex increased sales by 30% and created 264 new textile jobs for women.

“Despite the economic crisis and COVID-19 impact, I believe that there still are many economic opportunities in our sector. Hard work and commitment remain the key ingredients for achieving success.”
Houssem Khemir
General Manager – Altutex