In a significant move to bolster sustainable cotton production in Africa, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO) have announced a partnership to raise $12 billion. This initiative was unveiled following the WTO's 9th Global Review of Aid for Trade, themed “Cotton-to-Clothing: Charting Pathways to Create Sustainable Jobs for Women and Youth in West and Central Africa.”
The collaborative effort, part of the ongoing Partenariat pour le Coton, focuses on mobilizing resources for the developing cotton and textile industries in West Africa. The primary beneficiaries will be the Cotton Four countries—Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali—alongside Côte d'Ivoire.
A statement released on UNIDO’s website highlights the signing of a Joint Declaration as a significant milestone in this endeavor. This declaration aims to galvanize investment financing through a collaborative effort involving UNIDO, WTO, the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), alongside financial institutions such as the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC) and the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC).
This joint initiative marks a critical step towards fulfilling the investment needs of the revamped Cotton Roadmap Initiative, paving the way for a sustainable and thriving cotton industry in the region.
The recent Cotton-to-Clothing panel, WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala emphasized the need for a 'blue button' seal to promote sustainable and fairly produced textiles globally. "We must fundamentally rethink how our economies and global supply chains work to create a fairer globalization that benefits all," she stated.
Okonjo-Iweala highlighted the significant opportunity for West Africa in the cotton and textile industry. She expressed satisfaction with the collaborative efforts of UNIDO Director-General Gerd Müller, ITC, and other partners in aiding the Cotton Four (C4) countries—Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, and Mali—in developing their cotton value chains.
The panel, moderated by WTO Deputy Director-General Jean-Marie Paugam, brought together key stakeholders, including private sector representatives, development finance institutions, and development partners. Participants included UNIDO Director-General Gerd Müller, ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Benin's Minister of Trade and Industry Alimatou Shadiya Assouman, ITFC CEO Hani Sonbol, and AFC President Samaila Zubairu. Gherzi Textil Org Switzerland CEO Navdeep Sodhi also presented the Baseline Study of Cotton-to-Textile/Apparel Value Chain Development in the C4 and Côte d’Ivoire.
The panel discussion underscored the critical role of financial institutions in improving access to energy, enhancing skills, and supporting infrastructure projects. These efforts aim to facilitate trade and unlock investment opportunities essential for developing the cotton-to-textile/apparel value chain in West and Central Africa.
The statement also highlighted the signing of a Joint Declaration as a pivotal step toward mobilizing the necessary investment financing for this initiative.
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