Turning cotton to clothes could create 500,000 jobs in West Africa
West Africa’s five biggest producers mostly export raw cotton that’s processed elsewhere. A new study shows that by building local industry to turn cotton into cloth and clothing, the countries could create 500,000 jobs.
The study looked at Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali. Collectively, they’re known as C4+ countries.
The research confirmed that within 10 years, they could process up to 25% of their cotton crops. That would require around $5 billion in investment in production facilities and training for workers.
To get there, the countries would need to train workers, provide access to finance for businesses, scale up the work of business support organizations, and improve infrastructure.
The findings were endorsed on 5 June at an international workshop in Cotonou, Benin, on the sidelines of a meeting of the Steering Committee meeting of the Partenariat pour le Coton (Partnership for Cotton).
The Partenariat pour le Cotton was initiated at the World Trade Organization, and includes the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the International Trade Center (ITC) and the International Labor Organization (ILO).
The partnership is aimed at supporting African cotton producing countries add value to cotton and integrate in international textile and clothing value chains.
The study was financed by Afreximbank and FIFA, two partners in the initiative.
The UN Resident Coordinator in Benin, Aminatou Sar, underlined the importance of the cotton sector to the C4+ economies.
‘New and upgraded technology – including renewable energy and recycling technologies – will be essential when processing cotton for export markets and meet due diligence requirements,’ said Jinjiang Yan, UNIDO Industrial Development Officer.
‘Developing textile and clothing industries in this new era requires new skill sets to adopt green and digital technologies.’
UNIDO and the ILO have developed a joint initiative, Skills for Sustainable Industrial Transformation in Africa, to provide the training needed to grow industry.
ITC Country Manager Ms. Ludmila Azo said small business would play an important role in realizing the opportunities that cotton holds for the five countries.
‘These businesses, including in the cotton, textiles and fashion industry drive innovation, create jobs, and are pivotal for sustainable development,’ she said. ‘We must enhance their competitiveness and enable their participation in global value chains.’
The study will inform a programme to attract investment and training in the C4+ countries.
