The establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (Zlecaf) brings new impetus to the African clothing industry. According to a recent report from the International Food Policy Research Institute, it is expected that by 2026, this industry will generate 15% of its export earnings from Africa, a significant growth compared to 2020 estimates which were 5%.
Entitled “Africa Agriculture Trade Monitor 2023”, this report highlights the essential role of Zlecaf in stimulating the growth of clothing exports in Africa while reducing imports from other continents. However, it is important to emphasize that the Zlecaf does not constitute a miracle solution to the multiple challenges facing the textile and clothing sector in Africa.
Indeed, Africa’s clothing value chain, lack of infrastructure, technology and low labor productivity remain major obstacles. Additionally, issues such as water stress and climate change affecting cotton production highlight the need for structural reforms to strengthen this sector.
To overcome these challenges, measures such as increasing labor productivity, improving infrastructure, investing in research and development, as well as directing public spending towards the agricultural sector are essential.
Currently, the dynamism of intra-African exports of textiles and clothing is driven by countries such as Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, South Africa and Benin. These countries play a major role in intra-African trade, with significant exports to other countries on the continent.
In terms of imports, South Africa occupies a dominant position, absorbing a significant share of shipments of textiles and clothing from other African countries. These data highlight the importance of strengthening the clothing industry in Africa to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by Zlecaf.
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– [New consumer trends in Africa](link2)
– [The impact of foreign investments on African growth](link3)
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