West Africa’s new textile hub?

A Benin worker manning a machine in a textile factory.

Worker in a cotton ginning factory in Benin. (Image source: M. Diarassouba für AbTF)

According to the Aid by Trade Foundation (AbTF), Benin is establishing itself as a new procurement and production hub for textiles and clothing

AbTF is supporting this development through Cotton made in Africa (CmiA), one of its sustainability standards, that aims to provide a sustainable and local basis for textile production while also facilitating access to international markets. The potential of the country’s textile market was confirmed by visit from a AbTF delegation.

“African textile production is gaining momentum, and Cotton made in Africa makes a major contribution to ensuring that sustainability plays a key role,” said Gerlind Baz, a senior project manager at AbTF. “We are very pleased to support the development of a West African textile production sector here in Benin and to thereby further promote market access for sustainably produced cotton from Africa.”

The West African country has recently celebrated the construction of a textile production centre near Cotonou. With 100% of the cotton verified by CmiA, it has depicted as a major step forward in the development of an independent and sustainable textile industry in Benin.

Sustainable cotton

In Benin, cotton has been grown in accordance with the CmiA standard since the initiative was founded in 2005. Together with three cotton companies in Benin, AbTF is working through its CmiA and CmiA Organic standards to improve market access for cotton producers and to make people more resilient to the effects of climate change while protecting the environment and biodiversity.

After visiting the new textile park, the delegation, alongside partners from GIZ and PAN UK, met farmers who grow cotton in accordance with the CmiA Organic standards and who are a part of the Growing Benin’s Organic Cotton Sector project. This aims to improve living conditions for farmers and supports them in the transition to the cultivation of organic cotton in compliance with standards. By expanding market access through CmiA, the project plans to secure long-term investments in the organic cotton sector in Benin.