“Made in Benin”: cashew and clothing positioned on the international market

2023-07-21 13:52:05

The “Made in Benin” is positioned on the international market. After boxes of clothing sent to the United States on July 12, tons of cashew nuts were transported to the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday July 19, 2023.

These are Benin’s first exports since the installation of the first production units within the Glo-Djigbé Special Industrial Zone (GDIZ). About 70,000 pieces of clothing from this future industrial hub were sent to the United States. Boxes of leggings and polo shirts for girls and boys were delivered to the American brand, “The Children place (TCP)”.

Clothes sold at TCP were made from cotton produced in Benin and processed in the GDIZ according to Laurent Gangbes, Director General of the Agency for the Promotion of Investments and Exports (APIEx).

The quantity exported is expected to increase soon. “Before the end of the year, we will be able to deliver 700,000 pieces”announced to the press on July 12, 2023, Létondji Béhéton, Director of the Company for Investment and Promotion of Industry (SIPI-Benin).

APIEx and SIPI-Benin are counting on demand from other major brands to achieve this performance. “We have…[signé] clothing delivery contracts with several brands including the brand TCP (The Children place) which is based in the United States and which owns a chain of clothing stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico”assured Létondji Béhéton.

Cashew “made in Benin” in Dubai

Processed within the GDIZ, cashew from Benin is now present in Dubai. 32 tons of the product were sent on Wednesday July 19, from Cotonou to the United Arab Emirates.

According to the authorities, the cashew tonnage of GDIZ could change by 2024. “In this area, we have a capacity of around 40,000 tonnes. 20,000 tons of cashew nuts are actually processed and now we will be processing 100,000 tons of raw cashew nuts in the coming months”Létondji Béhéton report.

To cover the raw material needs of the GDIZ, the Beninese State will ban the export of raw cashew nuts. According a decree of March 30, 2022, “from April 1, 2024, the export of raw cashew nuts will be prohibited in the Republic of Benin”.

What about the local market?

Clothes “made in Benin” are already on the local market. On the shelves of some supermarkets, polo shirts for adults and children stand. And customers are already flocking to snatch these garments.