Cotonou, 3 November 2026 – The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), in partnership with the Société d’Investissement et de Promotion de l’Industrie (SIPI-BENIN S.A.), the company responsible for developing the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), and Panafritex, hosted the Special Economic Zones Investment Forum (FocusSEZ 2026) on 21 and 22 October 2026 at the Sofitel Cotonou Marina Hotel and at the GDIZ.
Held under the theme “Investing in Local Processing and Industrialisation”, the event brought together international investors, industrialists, buyers and development finance institutions to explore the significant processing and partnership opportunities offered by the GDIZ.
Local Processing at the Heart of Discussions
In his address, Mr Jean Arsène Yemina, Regional Director of Operations for Francophone West Africa at Afreximbank, speaking on behalf of Mrs Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice-President of Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank, highlighted the role of financing and industrial partnerships in transforming Africa’s raw materials into finished products:
“Here in Benin, textiles have become the flagship of this transformation. The Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone was established through a partnership between the Government of Benin and ARISE IIP, and Afreximbank is proud to have contributed to financing its development. Today, the Zone is home to West Africa’s first fully integrated cotton-to-garment platform, operated by Benin Textile (BTEX): from ginning to spinning, weaving and finished garments, all on African soil and by African hands.
Before the establishment of the GDIZ, less than 1% of Benin’s cotton was processed locally. In just three years, the Zone has reached an annual processing capacity of approximately 40,000 tonnes of cotton, representing nearly 12% of national production, and is producing millions of ‘Made in Benin’ garments for major international brands such as US Polo Assn., Kiabi and H&M.”
He also noted that similar progress was being made in the cashew, soya and shea value chains at the GDIZ.
Mr Létondji Béhéton, Managing Director of SIPI-BENIN S.A., emphasised the need to strengthen value creation across the continent:
“Our ambition can no longer be limited to producing and exporting raw materials. We must go further: process more of these resources on our continent, develop competitive industries, strengthen our value chains and capture a greater share of the wealth generated from our raw materials.”
He added:
“The Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) is part of this broader vision. It is the result of a public-private partnership between the Republic of Benin and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP). This integrated industrial platform embodies a shared commitment to making local processing a driver of economic growth, job creation and industrial development.
By encouraging the establishment of manufacturing facilities and the development of integrated value chains, the GDIZ is helping to transform raw materials into higher-value products, consolidate Benin’s industrial capabilities and strengthen its competitiveness in regional and international markets. In doing so, it contributes to building a more diversified economy, generating wealth and creating sustainable opportunities for the country.”
Mr Arvind Mathur, CEO of PANAFRITEX, highlighted the role of ARISE IIP’s textile platform in developing an integrated textile industry in Africa, capable of transforming the continent’s cotton into finished products with greater added value.
“Africa has significant potential to strengthen its position in the global textile industry. Realising this ambition requires the development of integrated industrial capabilities that can transform cotton produced on the continent into higher-value finished products, while enhancing the competitiveness of the sector and its access to international markets.
At PANAFRITEX, we are contributing to this momentum by developing a model that brings together industrial processing, commercial development and the promotion of finished products. Our own brands, Obalé and SúSú, are part of this approach, connecting African manufacturing capabilities with consumer markets.
The commissioning of our first industrial facilities within the GDIZ in Benin marks a significant milestone in the roll-out of this model. At the same time, the development of new facilities in Cameroon, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Tanzania reflects our ambition to progressively expand our industrial footprint across the continent.
Through this expansion, we aim to contribute to strengthening African textile value chains, creating skilled jobs and ensuring that a greater share of value added is retained locally.”
Financing, Market Access and Business Meetings
Discussions focused on the development of a new generation of African industrial hubs, the cotton value chain, financing for the textile industry, as well as logistics and integrated supply chains. The programme also included targeted business-to-business (B2B) and business-to-government (B2G) meetings, designed to facilitate the identification of investment projects, financing solutions and commercial partnerships.
Afreximbank presented the range of instruments it makes available to investors and businesses to support the establishment and expansion of their industrial operations. These include long-term financing and equipment financing, trade finance and working capital facilities, guarantees and risk-sharing mechanisms, as well as project preparation support and equity investment through the Fund for Export Development in Africa (FEDA).
The Bank also showcased its Africa Buyers Programme, which facilitates connections between African buyers and manufacturers operating in industrial zones across the continent. The aim is to complement access to finance with concrete commercial opportunities for products manufactured in Africa.
A full day was dedicated to a visit to the GDIZ, giving participants the opportunity to discover its infrastructure and industrial facilities, as well as take part in matchmaking meetings between investors, manufacturers and buyers. These activities were designed to facilitate the establishment of new manufacturing units and strengthen sourcing opportunities for ‘Made in Benin’ products, particularly in agro-processing, textiles, plastics, packaging and industrial equipment.
From agro-processing and textiles to plastics, packaging and industrial equipment, the overarching objective is to accelerate the establishment of new manufacturing facilities and strengthen the supply of quality-certified ‘Made in Benin’ products.
GDIZ: An Integrated Model Supporting Industrial Sovereignty
Covering 1,640 hectares, the Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) is the result of a strategic partnership between the Republic of Benin and ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms. Designed as a comprehensive and integrated industrial ecosystem, it supports investors across the entire value chain, from the secure sourcing of locally available agricultural and mineral raw materials to industrial processing and the export of finished products. This is made possible by its direct connections to the country’s logistics infrastructure and the Port of Cotonou.
By hosting this international forum, Benin has once again demonstrated its ability to offer an attractive business environment, an enabling regulatory framework and world-class infrastructure to help build the industries of tomorrow in Africa.
About Afreximbank
The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a pan-African multilateral financial institution dedicated to financing and promoting intra- and extra-African trade. Over the past 30 years, Afreximbank has developed innovative structures to provide financing solutions that facilitate the transformation of Africa’s trade structure and accelerate industrialisation and intra-regional trade, thereby supporting economic expansion across the continent.
A strong advocate of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Afreximbank launched the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), which has been adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to support the implementation of the AfCFTA.
In collaboration with the AfCFTA Secretariat and the AU, the Bank established a US$10 billion Adjustment Fund to help member states participate effectively in the AfCFTA.
As at 31 December 2025, the Bank’s total assets and guarantees stood at approximately US$48.5 billion, while shareholders’ funds amounted to US$8.4 billion.
Afreximbank is rated AAA by China Chengxin International Credit Rating Co., Ltd (CCXI), A by GCR, A- by the Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR), and Baa2 by Moody’s. The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
For further information, please visit: www.afreximbank.com
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Media Contact:
Vincent Musumba
Head of Communications and Events Management (Media Relations)
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About the GDIZ
The Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ), developed by the Société d’Investissement et de Promotion de l’Industrie (SIPI-BENIN S.A.), is a joint venture between ARISE Integrated Industrial Platforms (ARISE IIP) and the Republic of Benin.
The GDIZ is a dynamic 1,640-hectare industrial zone, with Phase I covering 400 hectares. It is developed by ARISE IIP, which has established several industrial zones and platforms across Africa, including the Gabon Special Economic Zone and the Adétikopé Industrial Platform in Togo, as well as projects in other countries across the continent.
Located approximately 45 km from Cotonou, the GDIZ is strengthening Benin’s industrial base by promoting local value addition, the development of integrated value chains and access to regional and international markets.
It benefits from dedicated industrial infrastructure, an inland dry port connected to the Port of Cotonou, warehousing facilities, access to essential utilities (water, electricity and natural gas), as well as an attractive tax and customs regime, facilitating the establishment and growth of businesses.
Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ)
Irmine GNIDEHOU Épouse TOKPLO
Communications Director
Société d’Investissement et de Promotion de l’Industrie (SIPI-BENIN S.A.)
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.gdiz-benin.com
