Campaign targets $34 billion for African textiles
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on ThisDay
Illustrative image · Raphhill .Jpg · Pexels · Licence PexelsA pan-African coalition wants Africa to capture $34 billion in annual revenues through local cotton processing and garment production. It estimates that $1.8 billion in funding could create nearly two million industrial jobs, according to Africa Practice cited at the launch.
A pan-African coalition of organisations and media groups has launched a campaign in Lagos to increase local cotton processing and enable the continent to capture an additional $34 billion in annual revenues from the cotton and clothing industry. The “Power, Protect, and Purchase” campaign, led by the Africa Made It movement, is based on an Africa Practice study cited at its launch, according to ThisDay.
Africa exports up to 98% of its raw cotton and retains only 2% of its final value, while African countries record an annual $35 billion trade deficit in textiles, according to the study. The coalition estimates that $1.8 billion in funding is needed to develop local spinning, weaving and garment factories, creating nearly two million permanent industrial jobs and injecting about $33 billion annually into African households.
Reviving the sector could also support rural economies through local cotton purchases and wages paid by factories, according to the coalition. Marie Wilke, editor-in-chief of Africa Made It magazine, said that the influence of African culture and design in global fashion had not yet translated into sufficient local revenues.
The campaign launch comes after the development of a “Made in Senegal” clothing brand by Kamal Raw, announced on 4 August 2026. Kamal Raw develops a “Made in Senegal” clothing brand.
