Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire’s economic hub, recently welcomed the third annual African Forum of Textile Maintenance Professionals (FAPET). This significant gathering, held in the vibrant Abidjan-Plateau district, brought together industry leaders and specialists from across the continent to address critical issues surrounding the modernization and sustainable industrialization of textile care in Africa.
The forum’s central theme, “Structuring, ecological transition, and innovation: charting a course for sustainable industrialization in African textile care,” set the tone for productive discussions. Soro Mamadou, representing Dr. Eugène Aka Aouélé, the esteemed president of the Economic, Social, Environmental, and Cultural Council (CESEC), officially inaugurated the event.
Speaking on behalf of the CESEC president, Mr. Mamadou emphasized the increasingly vital role the textile maintenance sector plays in the economic advancement of African nations.
He highlighted that what was once perceived as a secondary industry has now transformed into a potent engine for job creation, environmental stewardship, and the enhancement of service quality across diverse sectors, notably healthcare and tourism.
“Africa must forge its own robust value chains, upgrade its infrastructure, and elevate the professionalism of its trades to meet stringent international standards,” Soro Mamadou declared to the assembled African delegations.
Throughout the sessions, participants frankly addressed the numerous persistent challenges still confronting the industry.
Yoboué Célestin-Arthur, who presides over the African Federation of Textile Maintenance Professionals (FAPET), specifically pointed to the pervasive informality within the sector, a notable deficit in technical training, restricted access to essential funding, and the urgent imperative to accelerate the ecological transition.
He commended the dedicated mobilization of African stakeholders, particularly acknowledging Fayçal Belaroussi, Vice-President of FAPET and President of the National Association of Dry Cleaners and Laundries of Algeria, alongside Mr. Adebayo, President of the Fabricare Professionals and Dryclean Association.
Demonstrating a clear commitment to bolstering the Ivorian economy and the wider African industry, the organizers envision this platform as a pivotal instrument for sectoral development. This will be achieved through facilitating experience sharing, fostering robust public-private partnerships, and championing the adoption of modern, environmentally sound practices.
Scheduled from May 20 to 22, 2026, FAPET 2026 is poised to delve deeply into crucial areas such as the efficient management of hospital, industrial, and domestic linen, while also exploring comprehensive prospects for the industrialization of the textile maintenance sector across Africa.