Benin Republic has emerged as the textile hub in West Africa.The Republic of Benin has quietly emerged as a hub for sourcing textiles for international and regional markets in West Africa.
The Glo Djibe Industrial Zone (GDIZ), situated 45km from Cotonou, has aided Benin Republic’s emergence as the focal point for ultra-modern textile facilities where a 1640-industrial cluster has been set up by the UAE-based Arise IIP in a joint venture with the Republic of Benin.
The vertically integrated textile and garment factories in the zone produce ready-made garments and home textiles for the European and American markets, taking advantage of the geographical proximity and preferential market access.
The Guardian gathered that the GDIZ is expected to attract an investment of $1.4 billion and generate employment of300,000 jobs by 2030.
Benin Republic is the largest cotton producer in Africa and part of the ‘C4+’ cohort recognized by international development agencies such as the WTO, UNIDO and ITC.
The ‘C4+’countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Ivory Coast – account for 60 percent of Africa’s cotton production of about two million tons, according to the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).
‘Partenariat pour le Coton’ (Partnership for Cotton) initiative launched at the 13th WTO Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi in January 2024, heralded the transformation of the cotton-textile sector in West Africa.