WTO Event to Boost African Cotton Trade and Investment

The event will highlight the economic importance of cotton to global trade and showcase new investment opportunities for West and Central African countries seeking to move up the textile and garment value chain.

A major high-level event focused on strengthening the global cotton value chain will take place in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 25 March, ahead of the 14th World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference, bringing together global leaders, financial institutions, and private sector stakeholders to promote investment in Africa’s cotton industry.

The event will highlight the economic importance of cotton to global trade and showcase new investment opportunities for West and Central African countries seeking to move up the textile and garment value chain.

Launch of Cotton Investment Platform

A key highlight of the event will be the launch of the Partenariat pour le Coton (PPC) Investment Platform, a new initiative designed to mobilize investment and strengthen partnerships across the cotton, textile, and garment sectors.

The platform will present strategic investment opportunities for the period 2026–2030, aiming to attract global investors and support industrial development across cotton-producing countries in Africa.

The initiative is part of a broader effort to transform Africa’s cotton sector from raw material production to value-added manufacturing, including textile production, garment manufacturing, and fashion design.

Global Leaders to Address Cotton’s Development Potential

Opening remarks will be delivered by several prominent international and national leaders, including:

• Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the WTO

• Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC)

• A senior official from the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)

• Luc Atangana, Cameroon’s Minister of Trade

• Trade ministers from the Cotton-4 Plus (C4+) countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire and Mali

These countries are among Africa’s largest cotton producers and are seeking to expand their role in global textile supply chains.

Major Financial Institutions Join Investment Talks

A high-level panel discussion will focus on positioning West and Central Africa as an investment-ready destination for cotton-related industries.

The panel will include senior leaders from major global financial and development institutions, including:

• Dr Sidi Ould Tah, President of the African Development Bank

• Dr George Elombi, President of Afreximbank

• Adeeb Yousuf Al-Aama, CEO of the International Islamic Trade Finance Corporation (ITFC)

• Dr Olasupo Olusi, CEO of the Bank of Industry of Nigeria

• Frederik Thor, CEO of Scan Thor

• Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, Benin’s Minister of Trade

Discussions will focus on financing opportunities, industrial investment, and strategies to strengthen regional manufacturing capacity.

FIFA Partnership Highlights Cotton Production

The event will also feature a unique collaboration between FIFA and African cotton producers.

FIFA representatives and Cameroonian football legend Samuel Eto’o will unveil new tee-shirts and polo shirts produced in Benin for distribution through the FIFA Football for Schools (F4S) programme.

The initiative will provide tens of thousands of jerseys to schools worldwide, marking a milestone partnership between FIFA and the cotton sector through the PPC platform.

Organizers say the initiative demonstrates how sports, trade, and youth empowerment can work together to support sustainable development.

African Designers Take Centre Stage

The event will conclude with a reception and immersive fashion show showcasing the work of Central and West African designers, highlighting cotton’s role as a sustainable and breathable textile.

Designers will present innovative garments that demonstrate the growing potential of African cotton in global fashion markets.

Innovation Exhibition During WTO Conference

Throughout the Ministerial Conference, a Cotton-Textile Innovation Exhibition and pop-up store will display a range of cotton-based products.

The exhibition will feature:

• Live textile production demonstrations

• Fashion and garment displays

• Cotton-based jewellery and accessories

• Exclusive retail products produced by African designers and entrepreneurs

The exhibition aims to demonstrate the economic potential of cotton beyond raw exports, encouraging global buyers and investors to engage with Africa’s textile industry.

Organized by the WTO Secretariat in partnership with UNIDO, ITC, the International Labour Organization (ILO), and FIFA, the event aims to strengthen cooperation between governments, development agencies, and the private sector to support sustainable trade, industrial development, and youth empowerment in Africa.