The World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have launched an initiative to attract investment into the textile and garment industries of five African countries, aiming to strengthen regional manufacturing and create jobs.
According to the WTO, a baseline assessment conducted by UNIDO and the International Trade Centre (ITC) identified potential investment commitments of $12 billion over ten years, including $5 billion from the private sector.
The initiative covers Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali and Côte d'Ivoire, collectively known as the C-4+ group. The programme aims to help these countries move beyond exporting raw cotton and develop higher-value activities, including textile processing and garment manufacturing.
The projected investments could generate about 500,000 direct jobs, particularly for women and young people, as well as another 1.5 million indirect jobs. More than ten investment-ready projects have already been developed through technical workshops, with financial partners committing to support their financing.
The initiative seeks to establish an integrated regional value chain, connecting cotton-producing countries with coastal states offering access to ports and industrial infrastructure. This approach is intended to attract international investors and strengthen Africa's position in global textile and apparel markets.
UNIDO plans to prepare investment presentations for individual countries and promote the opportunities to investors in major textile markets, including China and Türkiye. The program is coordinated by the Cotton Partnership, a multi-stakeholder initiative co-convened by the WTO and UNIDO, with the participation of Afreximbank, the International Trade Centre and other international and financial institutions.
