Swiss textile machinery leader Rieter has unveiled a bold $5 billion initiative aimed at transforming Africa’s cotton processing and textile manufacturing sectors. The project, which targets the establishment of 500,000 metric tons of cotton transformation capacity over the next 3-5 years, is expected to generate up to half a million new jobs across the continent.
The initiative, dubbed the Africa Textile Renaissance Plan, is a collaboration between Rieter, Arise IIP, a pan-African developer of industrial parks, and the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). The partnership seeks to reduce Africa’s reliance on textile imports while expanding its export capacity to the United States under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). Furthermore, the plan emphasizes localizing machine repair expertise, creating a more self-sufficient industry within Africa.
The program’s success will hinge on selecting countries with the necessary infrastructure, such as reliable power and gas supply, and existing textile parks that can accommodate the initiative. Special training centers will be established in these regions to enhance workforce skills and meet the growing demands of the sector.
A key aspect of the program is its streamlined financing process, which includes standardized loan documents, a swift two-month application period, and predefined business plan templates to help speed up the implementation of textile projects.
Rieter has also committed to expanding its manufacturing presence in Africa, with plans to establish a repair and maintenance facility in an Arise IIP industrial park in Benin. The company will also introduce spare parts warehousing and begin phased machine assembly operations, further strengthening the industry’s infrastructure on the continent.
Gagan Gupta, CEO and founder of Arise IIP, called the initiative a “significant milestone” in Africa’s industrial development, adding, “This plan will not only boost local manufacturing but will also position Africa as a leader in sustainable textile production.”
Rieter’s CEO, Thomas Oetterli, expressed strong support for the project, saying, “We are excited to contribute our expertise and resources to this transformative initiative, which marks the beginning of a new era for Africa’s textile industry.”
