Abidjan has become the hub for Africa’s textile care professionals as the third edition of the African Forum of Textile Care Professionals (FAPET) kicks off on May 20, 2026. Hosted at the Abidjan-Plateau venue, the event brings together industry leaders from across the continent to address critical challenges in modernizing and industrializing Africa’s textile care sector.
Under the banner “Structuring, ecological transition and innovation: steering sustainable industrialization of Africa’s textile care sector”, the forum was inaugurated by a representative of the president of the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council (CESEC), Soro Mamadou.
Addressing delegates on behalf of the CESEC president, Dr. Eugène Aka Aouélé highlighted the growing economic significance of the textile care industry. Once viewed as a secondary activity, it has now emerged as a key driver of job creation, environmental conservation, and service enhancement across vital sectors such as healthcare and tourism.
“Africa must develop its own value chains, upgrade its infrastructure, and professionalize its workforce to meet global standards,” Soro Mamadou emphasized, addressing the assembled African delegations.
The discussions also shed light on persistent sectoral hurdles. Yoboué Célestin-Arthur, President of the African Federation of Textile Care Professionals (FAPET), identified ongoing challenges including the informal economy, limited technical training, restricted access to financing, and the urgent need for ecological transition.
He commended the collective mobilization of African stakeholders, including Fayçal Belaroussi, Vice-President of FAPET and President of Algeria’s National Association of Laundries and Dry Cleaners, and Adebayo, President of the Fabricare Professionals and Dryclean Association.
In a bid to bolster Côte d’Ivoire’s economy, organizers aim to position this forum as a catalyst for sector growth through experience-sharing, public-private partnerships, and the promotion of contemporary, eco-friendly practices.
Running from May 20 to 22, 2026, FAPET 2026 will focus on key areas such as the management of hospital, industrial, and household linen, alongside exploring pathways for the industrialization of Africa’s textile care industry.
