Rieter supports textile industry in Africa

Winterthur-based textile machine manufacturer Rieter has agreed to work with Arise Integrated Industrial Platforms and the Afreximbank, based in Cairo, with the aim of revitalizing the African textile industry. The partnership is focusing on the Africa Textile Renaissance Plan, which aims to expedite industrialization, boost exports and help the continent become less dependent on imports.

According to a press release, the framework agreement was signed on October 14, 2024. It sets out the goal of working together to establish the capacity to process 500,000 tons of African cotton, with the option to expand by an additional 500,000 tons. The project is supported by financing of $5 billion over the next three to five years.

The program will make use of Arise’s existing industrial parks in Africa to usher in a new era of textile manufacturing in the continent, explains the press release. It adds that countries will be chosen to participate based on specific criteria, and there are plans to establish training centers in these selected countries to improve machine repair skills.

Gagan Gupta, CEO and founder of ARISE IIP, says the project “represents a significant milestone in the continent’s industrial development.” It is expected to create up to 500,000 jobs.

Rieter will support the work with its commitment, expertise and consulting knowledge in the short-staple fiber industry. “We are convinced that the Africa Textile Renaissance Plan marks an important starting point for the future development of the textile industry in Africa,” says Thomas Oetterli, CEO of the Rieter Group. ce/heg