**Benin Expands Cotton Processing in New Industrial Zone**
*Porto‑Novo, Benin – 28 August 2026* – Benin, the largest cotton producer in West Africa, is seeking to add value to its cotton harvest by processing the fibre domestically rather than exporting raw material. The effort is centred on the Glo‑Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), a public‑private partnership located about 45 km north of Cotonou.
**Scale of Production and Investment**
During the 2025/26 season the country harvested 533,590 tonnes of seed cotton, reaffirming its position as the leading producer in the CFA franc zone. GDIZ aims to process up to 40,000 tonnes of fibre a year – roughly 12.7 % of Benin’s annual output – with plans to eventually handle the entire national harvest. The zone has attracted more than €1.3 billion in investment and reports a capacity to produce 24 million garments annually.
**Employment and Training**
According to GDIZ chief executive Létondji Beheton, the zone has created about 16,000 direct jobs in the textile sector and reports a total of over 25,000 jobs across textiles, garment manufacturing and agribusiness. The zone’s target is 300,000 direct and 600,000 indirect jobs by 2030. Worker‑training programmes such as the Azôli initiative have placed more than 5,000 young people in factory positions. In an interview, team leader Inès Alowakinnou of the industrial engineering department said, “Working conditions are good, I’m gaining experience, and I wouldn’t hesitate to encourage any young person to follow my example.”
**Infrastructure and Incentives**
GDIZ occupies a planned 1,640 hectares, with 400 hectares dedicated to the first phase, construction of which began in 2021. The zone offers turnkey factory space, on‑site logistics to the Port of Cotonou, and a “single‑window” service that consolidates immigration, tax, customs and other government procedures. Companies operating in GDIZ benefit from permanent exemptions from corporate income tax, business tax, value‑added tax on inputs, and customs duties on imported equipment.
**Diversification Beyond Cotton**
While cotton and textiles are the primary focus, the zone also intends to process locally produced cashew nuts, soybeans, maize and other agricultural commodities, as well as mineral resources such as clay, kaolin and granite.
**Market Access and Partnerships**
GDIZ firms have reportedly supplied international clothing brands including The Children’s Place, H&M, KIABI, GEMO, C&A and US Polo Assn., and exported garments to European markets such as France, Germany and Spain. The zone participates in the World Trade Organization’s C4+1 partnership, which includes a 2022 agreement with FIFA to source cotton for sportswear and merchandising from Benin and neighboring countries. Benin has supplied more than 170,000 FIFA‑related items under the “Football for Schools” programme.
**Challenges and Outlook**
Experts note that the zone’s long‑term competitiveness will depend on developing local technical expertise and reducing reliance on imported machinery. Sèmè City, a smart eco‑city project launched in 2017, is cited as a hub for research and technology that could support this transition. Power supply remains a concern; GDIZ currently produces over 200 megawatts and is expanding capacity through solar projects and other initiatives.
**Comments from Stakeholders**
– Létondji Beheton, GDIZ CEO, said, “For many decades, most African countries have exported raw commodities without value addition. In Benin we have decided to change that paradigm so we can create more wealth and jobs out of our natural resources.”
– Former Minister of Trade Alimatou Shadiya Assouman added, “The goal is to guarantee high‑level marketing, both for export and domestically, because our primary market is ourselves.”
– Independent consultant and agricultural economist Sourou Prisciron Zinsou observed, “This model works because of the quality achieved through initial investments that have positioned the company among the most modern.”
– Economics and local‑development expert Rouhaïmatou Bio Sanna warned, “GDIZ companies must build true, long‑term competitiveness and cannot rely solely on the fact that their cotton resources are grown locally.”
**International Context**
The International Monetary Fund’s 2024 Country Report notes that Benin’s exports have historically been concentrated in commodities such as cotton and cashews, accounting for more than one‑third of total exports between 2016 and 202
Article and image source: allafrica.com
