Togo’s industrial renaissance: Benart Afrique revives Datcha’s textile legacy
Under President Faure Gnassingbé’s leadership, Togo is accelerating its ambitious industrialization drive, with the newly inaugurated Benart Afrique factory symbolizing this transformative vision. The April 25 opening in Datcha—once home to the legendary TOGOTEX textile plant—marks a strategic revival of regional industrial hubs.
Built on the historic factory site with 6 billion CFA francs (≈$10M) investment, Benart Afrique has produced 30,000 uniforms (60,000 items) since October 2023 using locally processed cotton.
The facility already employs 300 workers while creating 600 indirect jobs, supplying military and civilian uniforms that demonstrate Togo’s growing self-reliance.
“This showcases our commitment to local transformation and private investment,” stated Industry Minister Manuella Santos during the ceremony attended by parliamentary leaders.
The project aligns with Togo’s broader industrialization strategy, including the Adétikopé Industrial Platform (PIA), as the nation positions manufacturing as a GDP growth engine.
By reactivating dormant industrial zones, Togo isn’t just reclaiming its textile heritage—it’s weaving a new economic fabric where regional development and national ambition converge.
With 65 years of independence as backdrop, this inauguration signals Togo’s determination to stitch industrialization into the nation’s development blueprint.
Chantal TAWELESSI
