Glo-Djigbé, Benin – 23 May 2025 –Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) is proud to announce that the French brand GEMO has joined the growing list of international labels selecting Benin as a strategic textile production base. This partnership marks a major step forward in the GDIZ’s rise as a key hub for garment manufacturing in West Africa.
GEMO is a renowned French ready-to-wear brand known for combining affordability, quality, and responsible commitment. Founded in 1991, GEMO is part of the Eram Group, one of France’s historic leaders in the fashion sector. With a network of over 400 stores across various European countries and a strong online presence, GEMO offers collections for the entire family, with a focus on social inclusion, sustainable sourcing, and product traceability.
This first shipment of over 50,000 garments marks the beginning of a long-term partnership between GEMO and Benin Textile Corporation, which operates within the GDIZ. It is part of a broader commitment to deliver 1 million garments by the end of 2025, with an ambitious target of 3 million units in 2026.
“This first shipment for GEMO confirms the GDIZ’s appeal as a world-class industrial platform for major global brands. We are proud that companies such as KIABI, The Children’s Place, US POLO ASSN., and now GEMO, are choosing Benin to produce garments that are both sustainable and competitively priced.” Létondji BEHETON, CEO of the Industrial Promotion and Investment Company (SIPI-Benin).
“For GEMO, this partnership with GDIZ aligns with a strategic vision of near-shoring and reducing our carbon footprint. Producing in Benin, with locally sourced cotton and within a socially responsible framework, is a genuine driver for sustainable innovation.” Mr Brice Berrard, Chief Sourcing of GEMO.
An industrial momentum at the heart of West Africa
With established brands such as KIABI, The Children’s Place (TCP), and US POLO ASSN. already entrusting GDIZ with the production of hundreds of thousands of garments, the zone has proven its ability to meet international standards in terms of quality, volume, delivery timelines, and social and environmental compliance.
Since its inception, GDIZ has been attracting textile manufacturers keen to benefit from proximity to European markets, traceability of raw materials, and sustainable production using certified local cotton—all supported by an integrated ecosystem that promotes on-site transformation and the creation of skilled employment.
Textiles: A strategic lever for Benin’s industrial transformation
Discussions with GEMO began in June 2024. This partnership symbolises the shift underway in Benin’s industrial landscape, highlighting the emergence of a sustainable, francophone economic network aligned with the expectations of global brands in terms of corporate social and environmental responsibility.
About GDIZ
Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) is developed by the Société d’Investissement et de Promotion de l’Industrie – BENIN (SIPI-BENIN SA), a joint venture between Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms (IIP) and the Republic of Benin. GDIZ is a dynamic industrial zone spanning 1,640 hectares (Phase 1: 400 ha), developed by ARISE IIP, which also operates several industrial zones across Africa, including the Gabon Special Economic Zone and Adétikopé Industrial Platform in Togo, among others.
About GEMO
GEMO is a French brand of affordable ready-to-wear clothing, founded in 1991 by Eram Group. It offers clothing, shoes, and accessories for the whole family, with over 400 stores and a presence in multiple European countries. Committed to responsible fashion, GEMO focuses on sustainable sourcing, optimised logistics, and meaningful industrial partnerships such as this new collaboration with Benin.
Press Contact
Irmine Gnidehou, Communication Manager
Société d’Investissement et de Promotion de l’Industrie (SIPI-BENIN S.A)
gdiz-media@arisenet.com
