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Currently, three operational factories process approximately 40,000 tons of cotton annually, which accounts for roughly 12 per cent of the nation’s production. These facilities produce finished goods, including uniforms, towels, and t-shirts, which are exported to Europe, the United States, and across Africa.
Cotton, often referred to as the “white gold,” remains a key pillar of Benin’s economy. The 2024–2025 season has been especially promising, with production estimated at 669,000 tons, placing Benin at the top of African producers ahead of Mali.
But this raw commodity is increasingly being processed locally. Launched in 2020, the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone, or GDIZ, has dramatically shifted the paradigm. This vast 1,640-hectare area, developed as a public-private partnership, hosts facilities for spinning, weaving, dyeing, and garment manufacturing.
Currently, three operational factories process approximately 40,000 tons of cotton annually, which accounts for roughly 12 per cent of the nation’s production. These facilities produce finished goods, including uniforms, towels, and t-shirts, which are exported to Europe, the United States, and across Africa.
The ambitions are bold. GDIZ plans to house 28 integrated units, generating up to 14 billion dollars in market value annually and creating 300,000 direct jobs by 2030.
This strategy is supported by an environmentally responsible approach. GDIZ is committed to achieving zero waste and low-carbon production through the use of solar energy.
The government, led by President Patrice Talon, is strongly promoting this model, often referred to as the king of cotton. The recent ban on raw cotton exports, effective as of May 2025, aims to encourage further domestic processing and capture more added value locally.
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In short, Benin is working to transform its cotton from a basic agricultural commodity into an industrial lever geared toward exporting finished products. This ambitious strategy, if successful, could reinforce the country’s economic diversification and strengthen its industrial sovereignty.
