00:05Benin is the largest cotton producer in Africa, churning out more than 750,000 tons per year.
00:14The inaugurated cotton-based textile production facility operated at Novarea within the OGL
00:21holding group is set to process more than 40,000 tons of cotton fiber into textiles each year.
00:32Benin is Africa's leading cotton producer.
00:35So today, thanks to this industrial zone and the integrated textile units we have here
00:41where we process the fiber into garments including spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing and garment finishing,
00:48we are able to process 40,000 tons of cotton fiber per year
00:53which represents 12.7% of annual fiber production with a market value of approximately $1.5 billion annually.
01:04In Benin, all raw materials and commodities such as cassava, cashew nuts, palm oil and more recently cotton
01:11are now processed locally before being exported.
01:15This represents a significant saving which not only prevents loss of billions but creates thousands of jobs.
01:25To date, thanks to the processing of these 40,000 tons of raw materials,
01:30we have already been able to create around 16,000 jobs in the textile industry,
01:36not to mention the other jobs generated by the zone, around 25,000 jobs linked to the other industries operating
01:44there.
01:45We have around 36 investors operating in various sectors including the textile industry,
01:52the cashew nut, she nut and soya processing industries and the pharmaceutical manufacturing industry.
01:59This will generate revenue of around 1.5 billion US dollars for the country.
02:06But the textile industry is sustainable because it reduces the carbon footprint.
02:12Raw materials will no longer be shipped from Benin to India or Bangladesh, which is an environmental benefit.
02:19The positive outcomes led to the launch of a cotton partnership initiative at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference in Cameroon.
02:27This partnership aims to mobilize investment to accelerate the transformation of the cotton value chain into textiles and clothing.
02:38Benin is hosting the first phase of the investment with the creation of a facility dedicated to sustainable textiles in
02:45Kotonou.
02:48Banks in Africa will talk to you about risks. Investing in Africa is complicated.
02:53There are wars. There is famine. Yet the situation is the same everywhere.
03:00Today we have a war in the Middle East. We have a war in Ukraine.
03:05And yet these countries do not face such difficulties in raising finance.
03:10The aim of the WTO in partnership with Afroxim Bank is to generate 5 billion US dollars in investment and
03:17capacity building support,
03:19which will in turn create around 500,000 direct jobs, particularly in textile manufacturing, transport and even fashion design,
03:28with women and young people among the main beneficiaries.
03:34Please be answered, please.
03:34Thank you very much.
03:35Please, see you again.
03:35Please, first of all, if you want to stop focusing on your work.
03:35I will not be able to present any questions.
03:35Thanks, please.
03:35Please, please, please.
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