Sakina checks the quality of t-shirts inside the textile factory in the Glo-Djigbe industrial zone (GDIZ) on January 15, 2025. With 13 million inhabitants, Benin regularly competes with Mali for the title of Africa's top cotton producer, according to the Regional Integrated Cotton Production Program in Africa (PR-Pica). The country is expected to produce 669,000 tons of cotton for the 2024/2025 season, compared to 569,000 tons for its Malian rival. Until now, Benin mainly exported its raw cotton to countries like Bangladesh and China, limiting the benefits for its economy. But recently, this West African country has begun exporting finished cotton products "Made in Benin". (Photo by Yanick FOLLY / AFP) (Photo by YANICK FOLLY/AFP via Getty Images)