The German-Senegalese Textile Business Partnership is a project that aims to actively participate in the revival of the Senegalese textile industry. The project is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and the Development and supported by Sequa GmbH.
The German-Senegalese Textile Business Partnership is a project that aims to actively participate in the revival of the Senegalese textile and organic cotton industry. The project is financed by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and the Development and supported by Sequa GmbH.
A partnership for the future
Sustainability is a major focus of our project, fueled by the increase in international demand of consumers for environmentally friendly and socially responsible products. The increase in international demand for renewable materials sustainably produced is a positive challenge for German and Senegalese textile and fashion companies. By working together on transparent value chains and compliance with internationally recognized standards, GESAMTMASCHE and all its partners are jointly striving to strengthen their business relationships while improving the production environment.
The partnership
Founded in 1916, the Confederation of the German Knitting Industry – GESAMTMASCHE – is the leading national trade association representing German producers of knitted fashion, bodywear and knitted fabrics for fashion and technical applications. German knitwear brands are internationally successful and hold a prominent market share in Europe. German knits have always been more than just fashion, they incorporate social trends, technical innovation, new materials and fashion culture. Unique design, the use of superior yarns and state-of-the-art technology form the basis of their international success. About 250 companies belong to the sector, this represents 7.8 billion Euros of exports per year.
Established in 1974, Sodefitex (Société de développement et des fibres textiles) has as its mission the development of the cotton agro-industry in Senegal, particularly in the agro-ecological regions of Eastern Senegal and Upper Casamance, which are favorable to cotton growing. Sodefitex has been ISO 9001 certified since March 18, 2005, for “the purchase, transport and ginning of seed cotton, the production and marketing of cotton lint, seed and seed” (in 2014, the scope of certification was extended upstream to technical-commercial advice to partner farmers). It has five ginning plants with a capacity of 65,000 tons of seed cotton spread over the cities of Kahone, Tambacounda, Kédougou, Vélingara and Kolda. Sodefitex also has a 1,500-ton cotton seed production plant in Vélingara, in Upper Casamance, for the local market and for export. Sodefitex works closely with the Fédération Nationale des Producteurs de Coton (FNPC) and is a member of the Association Sénégalaise Interprofessionnelle du Coton (ASIC).
