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The textile and apparel world turned its attention to Cairo last week as Destination Africa 2025 wrapped up another successful edition, reaffirming its role as one of the most influential sourcing events on the African continent.
Held on Nov. 12–13, the fair brought together international buyers, manufacturers, and sourcing specialists from dozens of countries, highlighting Egypt’s continued rise as a competitive hub for textile production and a gateway to broader African markets.
Egypt’s textile and apparel industry in 2024 stands as one of the country’s largest industrial and export sectors, with the market valued at about $23.5 billion. A decade earlier, in 2014–15, Egypt imported about $1.6 billion worth of key textile inputs, including fibers, yarns and fabrics, while apparel imports remained limited and were less consistently documented compared with domestic output.
According to organizers, more than 350 international visitors attended this year’s event, representing major sourcing markets across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. Delegates from the U.S., Türkiye, Poland, France, Spain, Italy, and other countries made up some of the strongest visitor groups.
The exhibitor base also reflected a growing regional footprint, with 90 exhibitors from Egypt and African nations showcasing fabrics, apparel, home textiles, and vertically integrated manufacturing capabilities. The top exhibiting countries included Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, and Benin, with Benin drawing particular interest for its efforts to expand value-added textile processing.
The diversity of attending companies demonstrated the fair’s increasing international impact. Delegations in recent months—culminating in their participation during the fair—included major U.S. retailers and sourcing giants such as Walmart, Chef Works, Macy’s, and Centric Brands.
Türkiye sent one of the most dynamic business groups, with representatives from LC Waikiki, Defacto, Ramsey, KIP, Oxxo, and Eren Perakende actively touring Egyptian facilities and engaging with exhibitors. European brands H&M, Mango, and Pepe Jeans were also present, alongside companies from Benin, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Poland, Italy, the U.K., Brazil, Mexico, China, France, South Korea, Germany, India, among many others.
Global apparel brands are increasingly looking toward Egypt for its stable manufacturing base, competitive production costs, and logistical advantages. This shift is especially pronounced among Turkish companies that are undergoing significant challenges at home.
Recent reports in Türkiye Today highlighted the deepening crisis within Türkiye’s textile industry, citing rising operational costs, factory closures, and warnings from industry leaders about production shifting abroad. One Turkish tycoon described the situation as a potential “major disaster,” as manufacturers continue exploring alternative hubs.
In this context, the strong Turkish turnout at Destination Africa 2025 reflects a strategic redirection. For many brands and sourcing executives, Egypt has become not simply an option but a necessity—a reliable partner capable of supporting scale, speed, and regional trade integration.
Turkish sourcing consultant Sibel Ege, head of Ren Sourcing, described this year’s fair as one of the most energetic and collaborative she has witnessed: “This year’s Destination Africa fair truly impressed me with the exceptional synergy among Turkish visitors; it was inspiring to witness such active engagement. I was also encouraged by the abundant appreciation and thanks from the visitors, which reinforced the impact and significance of the work I do.”
Ege, who has been involved with Egyptian production since 2006, noted increasing demand for Egypt-based sourcing support: “Based on requests I received from buyers, I extended my services to include sourcing support for garment and fabric production in Egypt. Destination Africa has highlighted the power of meaningful connections, linking Turkish buyers with the right opportunities and partners.”
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Another strong endorsement came from Aysegul Katar, supply chain director of Panco, who expressed appreciation for the high-quality business environment.
“I was very pleased to participate in Destination Africa 2025. This valuable organization provided an important platform to closely evaluate the commercial potential of the Egyptian region, to develop regional collaborations, and to create strategic openings toward new markets. Throughout the event, I had the opportunity to meet sector representatives, investors, and institutions from various countries. These meetings not only strengthened our existing projects but also created a concrete foundation for future collaborations,” she said in Turkish.
While Egypt remains the anchor of African textile production, other African countries are shaping new frontiers in sourcing. Benin’s participation this year was met with enthusiasm from buyers exploring alternative cotton-to-garment ecosystems. Meanwhile, Kenya—though absent from the fair this year—continues to build its global reputation as an emerging manufacturing hub, aided by industrial expansion and trade-friendly frameworks.
The presence of multiple African exhibitors reinforced the fair’s vision of a continent increasingly united by industrial collaboration and cross-border value chains.
As Destination Africa 2025 concludes, organizers and participants alike agree that this year’s edition marked a significant step forward. With record international engagement, deeper B2B matchmaking sessions, and growing recognition of Africa’s manufacturing potential, Cairo has once again solidified its status as a central meeting point for the global textile industry.
For many attendees, the fair was not merely a display of products, but a platform for building long-term partnerships at a time when the global sourcing landscape is rapidly evolving.
Destination Africa’s rising momentum suggests that Africa—led by Egypt and strengthened by emerging players like Benin—is steadily shaping the future of textile and apparel production.
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