Fatou Cissé Ndiaye: tailored solutions for companies and for economic growth in Senegal

Interview with Fatou Cissé Ndiaye, director of the textile manufacturer Pi-Tex in Senegal

Fatou Cissé Ndiaye is the founder of the textile company Pi-Tex in Louga, Senegal. This region in the north of the country is struggling with high unemployment, partly because the climate crisis is making it increasingly difficult to farm the arid land. A lack of infrastructure renders it unattractive for business start-ups. Despite this, Fatou Cissé Ndiaye took on that challenge and, in 2022, leased an old, half-derelict textile factory that had been closed for over 25 years. Following its extensive modernisation, approximately 30 employees now work there producing clothes and uniforms, for example for schools, sports teams and hospitals. Invest for Jobs is supporting the company on its path to growth.

Why did you start Pi-Tex?

I’ve lived in France for several years, but I still have very close ties to my home region of Louga. I understand the lack of prospects there. People, especially the younger ones, leave because there’s no work. Due to this exodus, the existing companies face a labour shortage. That has created a vicious circle. By founding Pi-Tex, I wanted to revitalise the local economy in Louga, where there’s a long tradition for textiles. We’re building on that tradition and now produce garments for many customers.

What challenges do young people face in the Louga region?

Louga is a predominantly agricultural region, but climate change is making it increasingly difficult for local people to make a living from agriculture. At the same time, there are few other employment prospects because there aren’t many manufacturers or factories in Louga. The challenge is to create apprenticeships and jobs locally that help young people access labour market.

Why did you need support from Invest for Jobs?

When I founded Pi Tex, I had a vision, a strategy and a goal. I used my own money to start the project. I had enough to rent the building, buy machinery and recruit some workers. However, I needed logistical and financial support to expand the business. Our employees also needed training to operate the new machines and ensure a meaningful scale of production. Without the support, I would have found it difficult to overcome these challenges. Thanks to Invest for Jobs, we can now respond to local market needs while also preparing for the international market.

What shape does the cooperation with Invest for Jobs take?

As I said, the Invest for Jobs support allowed us to buy some new and modern machines, among other things. Before we had our embroidery or laser printing machines, for instance, all that work was done by hand, which meant the production capacity was very limited. Thanks to the new machines, we can produce more quickly, sometimes at a better quality and above all in larger quantities, which means we can now say that Pi-Tex is a competitive company. However, the cooperation means much more than just financial support for buying machines. For example, Invest for Jobs helped us provide management and financial training for our employees.

How high do you think is the potential for job creation at Pi-Tex?

Through our cooperation with Invest for Jobs, we’ll create around 50 jobs this year and approximately 100 by 2025. In the long run, the number should rise to as many as 1,200. We have a vast production area at our disposal, and, at the same time, there’s a big market. So, the potential is there.

Why are you aiming to recruit women in particular?

Historically, women have always held a very important position in Senegalese society. However, in the past that place was mostly in a domestic context, that is to say, in the home. I’m convinced this needs to shift to the world of work. Sixty per cent of our workforce are women, and it’s now an essential part of our recruitment process to employ women. Women can then be drivers of social development within the family and the working world.

The SME Support Programme is being implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH and sequa gGmbH as part of the Special Initiative ‘Decent Work for a Just Transition’ of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).

More about the tailored support programme

Information about the project

"Our cooperation means much more than just financial support"