agriculture

WTO-ITC webinar in celebration of World Cotton Day 2021

How to develop a sustainable cotton to clothing value chain in Africa

Zoom

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted a resolution (A/RES/75/318) proclaiming 7 October as the International Day for Cotton, recognizing its vital importance.

As part of the celebration of World Cotton Day 2021, the Secretariats of the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Trade Centre (ITC) are organizing a webinar to examine the status and potential of African value chains for cotton, textile, and the clothing sectors.

This event will explore the trade potential and business opportunities associated from further regional integration and cotton value addition on the continent so as to enable African countries to reap enhanced benefits from local cotton production and to pursue their social, economic and development objectives, while taking into consideration the specific cultural and fashion preferences of consumers on the continent.

Programme

15:00 - 15:10 – Opening Ceremony

  • Mr. Jean-Marie Paugam, Deputy Director-General, WTO
  • Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, ITC
  • H.E. Mr. Harouna Kabore, Minister of Commerce, Industry and Handicrafts of Burkina Faso

PART I — WTO

15:10 - 16:15 - Current landscape & prospects for further developing cotton & textile value chains in Africa

Moderator:

  • Ms. Marième Fall, Officer in Charge of the WTO Agriculture and Commodities Division

“African cotton & textile value chains — a contemporary focus and emerging trends”, by Mr. Navdeep Singh Sodhi, Partner of Gherzi Textil Organization Zurich
Presentation

Panellists:

  • Mr. Jinjiang Yan, United Nations Industrial Development Organization — UNIDO
  • Mr. Mike McCue, International Cotton Advisory Committee — ICAC
  • Ms. Mary Concilia Anchang, International Forum for Transformation of African Cotton, Textiles & Accessories — FICOTA, Cameroon
  • Mrs. Lisa Barratt, Africa Operations Manager, Better Cotton Initiative
  • Mr. Francisco Ferreira dos Santos, Chairman of the Mozambique Ginners Association and Director of SAN JFS - BCI Implementing Partner

PART II — ITC

16:20 – 18:00 Investing in African cotton means investing in sustainability

The panel will explore the possibilities emerging under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) and how to support and reinforce efforts to increase African regional trade along the cotton to clothing value chain. The panel will also discuss the possibilities that a regional supply chain offers to expand T&C exports to the world, while adding value to African cotton. The panel will thus look at:

  • Investing in African cotton means investing in sustainability: The business case for African cotton and cotton products that have lower environmental footprints than cotton from other regions
  • Connecting the existing cotton production with textile facilities on the continent
  • How to build on African creativity and a thriving artisanal sector
  • Market potential for green African ready-made products on the continent
  • Emerging market potential for green products made entirely in Africa

Opening remarks:

Mr. Matthias Knappe, Programme Manager, Fibres, Textiles and Clothing

Potential and practical ways to develop a green regional cotton to clothing supply chain to stimulate regional and intercontinental trade.

Panellists:

  • Mr. Kanwar Usman, Head of Textile Innovation - ICAC
  • Mrs.Tanya Aucamp, founder - Social Weaver Communications (PTY), South Africa
  • Mrs. Inna Modja, African Designer and Women’s Rights & Climate Activist
  • Mr. Jasminder Bedhi, Former President - International Textile Manufacturers Association
  • Mrs. Natasja Ambrosio, Sustainability Executive - Mr Price Group Limited (South African retailer)
  • Mrs. Julia Hughes, President - US Fashion Industry Association

Share


Cotton Portal - Trade Intelligence for Cotton

Cotton Portal, launched at the 2017 Buenos Aires Ministerial Conference, provides a single-entry point for all the cotton-specific information available in WTO and ITC databases on market access, trade statistics, country-specific business contacts and development-assistance related information.

Cotton Portal survey

Help us to improve the portal

Problems viewing this page? If so, please contact [email protected] giving details of the operating system and web browser you are using.