African textile care leaders converge in Abidjan to boost sector industrialization

Abidjan is playing host to a pivotal gathering as the third edition of the African Forum of Textile Care Professionals (FAPET) unfolds in the city’s Plateau district from May 20 to 22, 2026. The event brings together industry leaders from across Africa to tackle the challenges and opportunities surrounding the modernization and industrialization of textile care across the continent.

a strategic forum for sustainable textile care development

The forum, themed “Structuring, ecological transition, and innovation: steering sustainable industrialization in Africa’s textile care sector”, was inaugurated with remarks from Soro Mamadou, representing the President of the Economic, Social, Environmental, and Cultural Council (CESEC).

In his address, conveyed by Dr. Eugène Aka Aouélé, Soro emphasized the growing significance of the textile care industry in Africa’s economic landscape. Once viewed as a secondary trade, the sector now stands as a key driver of job creation, environmental stewardship, and service enhancement in vital sectors such as healthcare and tourism.

“Africa must forge its own value chains, upgrade its infrastructure, and professionalize its workforce to meet global standards,” Soro stated, addressing delegates from across the continent.

key challenges and collaborative solutions

Discussions during the forum highlighted persistent hurdles, including the informal nature of many operations, limited access to technical training, financial constraints, and the urgent need for ecological transition. Yoboué Célestin-Arthur, President of the African Federation of Textile Care Professionals (FAPET), underscored these issues while acknowledging the sector’s growing momentum.

He praised the active involvement of regional stakeholders, including Fayçal Belaroussi, Vice President of FAPET and head of Algeria’s National Association of Pressing and Laundry Services, and Mr. Adebayo, President of the Fabricare Professionals and Dryclean Association.

fostering growth through innovation and partnerships

The organizers of FAPET 2026 are positioning the forum as a catalyst for Côte d’Ivoire’s economic growth, aiming to transform the textile care sector through knowledge sharing, public-private partnerships, and the adoption of sustainable, modern practices. Over three days, participants will explore solutions for managing hospital, industrial, and household linen, as well as strategies for scaling industrialization across Africa.