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Transcript/ScriptUSAGM SHARE
((PLAYBOOK SLUG: BENIN AFRICA MANUFACTURING CLIMATE
HEADLINE: African Cotton Exporter Benin Looks to Local Manufacturing to Reduce Emissions
TEASER: Cutting shipments of raw materials overseas for manufacturing boosts African economy, reduces carbon footprint
PUBLISHED: 11/17/2022 at 9:36 pm
BYLINE: Henry Wilkins
DATELINE: DJIGBÉ, BENIN
VIDEOGRAPHER: Henry Wilkins
VIDEO EDITOR: Henry Wilkins
PRODUCER:
SCRIPT EDITORS: Schearf, Salem Solomon
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA, Zoom, Arise IIP
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO__
TRT: 2:13
VID APPROVED BY: Holly Franko
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES:))
((INTRO))
[[Africa's biggest cotton exporter, Benin, has built an industrial park to move the country away from raw exports to finished products. Environmental activists say local manufacturing will also cut down on emissions from shipping that contribute to climate change. Henry Wilkins reports from Djigbé, Benin.]]
((NARRATOR))
In Benin, a new industrial park is taking shape that aims to be a model for local manufacturing while also reducing global emissions.
Although still under construction, Arise IIP’s Glo-Djigbé Industrial Zone (GDIZ) is already processing cashew nuts and making clothes for western markets.
Making finished products is new to Benin, Africa’s largest raw cotton exporter, and is providing jobs to locals like Marlène Keziklounon.
((Marlène Keziklounon, Tailoring Supervisor)) ((in French))
“I am especially happy in this environment. It was no ordinary thing since we’re used to tailoring as a cottage industry here. I was always interested in tailoring, so it was a goal of mine to get involved when the park opened.”
((NARRATOR))
Economists say industrial parks will shape Africa’s future as it pivots from the export of raw materials and import of finished products to local production.
If the continent can develop its own manufacturing, that means more money for African economies and lower prices for end consumers.
GDIZ says processing raw materials at home is also good for the planet.
((Letondji Beheton, GDIZ Chief Executive Officer)) ((in English))
“The raw cashew is processed here and instead of going to Vietnam and then back to the European market and the American market to be sold to the consumers, that, alone, is allowing us to reduce the carbon footprint. Then, you take cotton. Same thing.”
((NARRATOR))
The World Bank says international shipping accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions that are fueling climate change.
Activists agree that cutting shipments of African raw materials for overseas processing would help reduce the damage.
Faig Abbasov is with Transport and Environment, a campaign group for shaping the European Union’s green policy.
((Faig Abbasov, Transport and Environment Shipping Program Director)) ((in English))
“We tend to produce raw material in one country, transport it to another to process and then ship them to a third country to sell the final product. If we can get to an economy where raw materials are processed closer to the extraction point, we can cut down quite a lot of unnecessary emissions.”
((NARRATOR))
While the overall impact of reduced shipping is a fraction of global emissions, supporters say African manufacturing still has a role to play in the fight against climate change.
((Henry Wilkins, for VOA News, Djigbé, Benin))
NewsML Media TopicsEnvironment
NetworkVOA
Location (dateline)Djigbé, Benin
Embargo DateNovember 17, 2022 22:19 EST
BylineHenry Wilkins
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America, Voice of America - English
