Côte d’Ivoire signs agreement with China to boost cotton processing

Côte d’Ivoire is pursuing a strategy to increase the local transformation of its cotton production. Currently, over 90% of the country's cotton is exported in its raw state, primarily to Asian markets. To address this imbalance and capture more value within the textile and garment supply chains, the Centre de Promotion des Investissements en Côte d’Ivoire (CEPICI) confirmed a new agreement signed in Shanghai on August 25, 2026.

The agreement was established between the Conseil Coton, Anacarde et Karité and the textile sub-committee of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade. This partnership aims to foster investment, technology transfer, and capacity building in the cotton, textile, and apparel sectors.

This initiative aligns with Côte d’Ivoire’s national development goals to elevate the value-added potential of its agricultural sectors, including cashew and shea. While the 2021-2025 National Development Plan set a target of 40% cotton fiber transformation by 2025, recent data indicates that the transition toward industrial processing remains incomplete.