Yaoundé, 25 March 2026 – On the margins of the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) 14th Ministerial Conference, UNIDO and WTO organized a high-level event that highlighted how investment in the cotton, textile, and garment sectors could help transform West and Central African economies.
The event signalled a new phase of the ‘Partenariat pour le Coton (PPC)’, which is a multistakeholder support mechanism convened by WTO and UNIDO for the C-4+ countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali, Tchad and Côte d'Ivoire), that brings together committed international organizations, finance institutions, and private-sector partners to mobilize the investment needed to transform the cotton-to-textile value chain and to translate trade into meaningful development outcomes.
“Today, around 98% of the region’s cotton is exported as raw fibre, although the region has the potential to position itself as a gateway for processing and transformation into textiles and garments”, said WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. “We are on the cusp of creating a modern textiles and garment industry across West and Central Africa”.
During the event, partners stressed that capturing value requires coordinated action, investment‑ready projects, and clear pathways for private capital to engage. As a partnership for action, focused on mobilizing investment that aims to transform the sector, the PPC was established precisely for this purpose, and is now working to promote concrete opportunities across the entire value chain.
A highlight of the event was the launch of ‘Africa Textile Invest’ – the official PPC information website for investors developed to provide a one-stop portal for essential information including industrial zones, workforce and infrastructure profiles, market access conditions, and a curated pipeline of investment concepts.
“Its purpose is clear: to facilitate informed decision‑making and accelerate the transition from investment interest to implementation through a single, accessible space”, said UNIDO Managing Director Gunther Berger. “This new portal is an example of how we can translate the vision of the C-4+ into concrete action, with industrial development being the bridge that connects natural resources to global markets”.
The PPC aims to support the C-4+ countries in mobilizing USD5 billion in investment over a 10-year period, generating USD6 billion in value-added products, and enabling the region to position itself as a competitive West and Central African cotton and textile gateway for investment.
“The PPC seeks to leverage trade and investment to produce sustained and inclusive development gains as the future of African cotton lies in value addition”, said ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton. “Through this partnership, we will strengthen the cotton value chain across the continent, including through private-sector investment, so farmers and small businesses capture more value at home. This will change thousands of lives”.
Following the successful completion of its diagnostic phase (2024-2025), which identified priority investment areas across the C-4+ countries, the PPC is now entering a critical implementation phase. To effectively support countries in attracting investment, donor funding, blended finance solutions and risk mitigation instruments must be mobilized at scale.
Additional high-level speakers included Cameroon's Minister of Trade Luc Magloire as well as other ministers from the C-4+ group. The event was also enriched by significant contributions from high-level participants including Bank of Industry, ARISE IIP, Afreximbank, the African Development Bank, Gherzi Textile AG, the Islamic Trade Finance Corporation, and Scan-Thor.
Another prominent feature was the unveiling of new tee-shirts and polo shirts produced in Benin by FIFA representatives and Cameroonian football legends- comprising Samuel Eto'o. The event concluded with an immersive fashion show featuring the creations of African designers.
For more information, please contact:
Frank Van Rompaey, GLO/GVO
Jinjiang Yan, IET/AGR/RAP