(Business in Cameroon) – The shareholding structure of Cameroon Textile SA (Camtex) has been finalized as the company prepares to launch operations aimed at building a fully local cotton value chain and developing industrial capacity consistent with the government’s SND-30 development strategy. The project represents an investment estimated at XAF 180 billion and has brought together four partner institutions.
Panafritex, the textile subsidiary of the Arise Group, will hold 51.1 percent of the capital (XAF 36.15 billion). The National Cotton Development Corporation (Sodecoton) will hold 24.9 percent (XAF 17.97 billion). The National Social Insurance Fund (CNPS) will hold 20 percent (XAF 14.43 billion). Marlo Properties Fincorp will hold the remaining 5 percent (XAF 3.61 billion), a source close to the project said. The shareholder structure is designed to secure a reliable local cotton supply while combining the roles of an industrial operator (Arise), the long-standing sector operator (Sodecoton) and a domestic institutional investor (CNPS).
Financing Arrangements
Arise will rely on financing support from Afreximbank for its participation. A temporary holding arrangement is planned for Sodecoton if it faces liquidity constraints while awaiting repayment of approximately XAF 39 billion owed by the state. In that scenario, CNPS would temporarily carry Sodecoton’s shares under a shareholders’ agreement that includes repayment terms. This mechanism follows the industrial partnership signed between CNPS and Arise on September 11, 2025, in Yaoundé.
Camtex’s main production activities, including spinning, weaving, knitting and finishing, will be located in the Dibamba industrial and port zone, project officials said. The initiative is expected to create 12,000 industrial jobs, with an additional 3,000 positions planned in Garoua at a Center of Excellence dedicated to technical training and garment manufacturing. Production ramp-up is planned for the first half of 2026, with full capacity expected by 2033. The plant is designed to process 12,000 tonnes of cotton a year, initially serving the domestic market for uniforms, public-sector needs and sportswear before expanding into the CEMAC region. Investors expect the project to reach profitability in about eleven years.
The initiative supports a national objective to rebuild a domestic cotton-textile value chain that is currently dominated by imports and smuggling. The Dibamba site is expected to provide significant advantages in logistics and energy costs, while the partnership between CNPS and Arise offers a stable financial and institutional base.
By bringing together Sodecoton’s upstream presence, Arise’s industrial capabilities, and CNPS’s long-term domestic capital, Camtex’s governance structure creates the conditions for rare vertical integration in the sector. Its success, however, will depend on securing final financing, ensuring a reliable energy supply, maintaining efficient logistics, and protecting the domestic market through quality control, standards enforcement, and anti-smuggling efforts. With operations expected to start in 2026 and scale up through 2033, the project will require strong governance to translate investment into market share and long-term employment.
Amina Malloum
Read More: 11/11/2025- Cameroon Unveils XAF180Bln Cotton Project to Rebuild Cotton Value Chain
