Cotton is driving industrialisation in Africa.
As the driving force behind World Cotton Day, the Cotton Four countries are among the leading cotton producers in Africa. The contribution that cotton production makes to their respective gross domestic products and the share of cotton exports in total agricultural export revenues are among the highest in the world. The cotton industry is a central pillar of economic and social development in Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali. Cotton farming is a key sector for economic development and poverty alleviation, especially for their rural communities.
The governments of the Cotton Four countries have taken measures to strengthen the cotton sector. This includes aid for the procurement of seed and fertiliser as well as investments in the modernisation of agriculture. In the long term, the cotton sector is expected to benefit from further government investment and international partnerships, and industrialisation is expected to succeed.
Supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO), local value creation in the cotton sector is expected to promote the development and growth of a comprehensive and sustainable textile industry. The aim is to promote the development and expansion of fair and sustainable local cotton processing and thus support secure jobs and economic development in the regions.