Mali and Morocco are pushing ahead with the “Modal Tex 2025” project, a joint initiative to establish a modern garment factory in Bamako capable of producing 1,000 pieces per day. The project, unveiled by Twins Shop and API-Mali, is designed to harness Mali’s vast cotton output the largest in West Africa at 690,000 tonnes in 2023–2024 and combine it with Morocco’s well developed industrial know-how.
Officials say the partnership could transform Mali’s raw cotton into finished products, creating jobs, reducing reliance on imported garments, and building a “Made in Mali” textile brand. Morocco, already a regional textile powerhouse with established industrial zones, skilled workers, and trade agreements with Europe and beyond, is expected to provide crucial expertise and market access. However, challenges remain. Mali’s cotton harvest is projected to drop by 17% in 2024–2025 due to climate pressures and shrinking farmland. Feasibility studies, financing, and legal frameworks must also be finalized before production begins.
Still, Bamako has hailed the project as a cornerstone of its national industrial revival strategy, framing it as an opportunity to unlock the country’s economic potential while strengthening trade ties with Morocco. If successful, Modal Tex 2025 could mark the beginning of a new chapter in West Africa’s textile industry one where local raw materials fuel regional value chains and global exports.
