Footloose Investors

investing in the garment industry in africa

Publication

Esther de Haan

Myriam Vander Stichele

E. de Haan

M. Vander Stichele

1 August 2007

Sub-Saharan Africa has recently received substantial foreign investment in the garment industry. Governments in the various countries have put a great deal of effort into attracting the garment industry, and have competed with their neighbouring countries in offering incentives for manufacturing companies to start production – and later on to continue production – in their countries. Have these efforts been beneficial for the countries in question and who has really gained from these efforts? What have been the consequences of attracting what is known to be an unstable, footloose industry? This report brings together various case studies and analyses, and looks at the consequences of this investment for those that it should ultimately benefit; the population and workers in the garment industry in the various countries in Africa.