TN/AG/41  
TN/AG/SCC/12  
6 June 2019 
(19-3934) Page: 1/2 
Committee on Agriculture  
Special Session  
Sub-Committee on Cotton  Original: French  
 
  
ELEVENTH DEDICATED DISCUSSION OF THE RELEVANT  
TRADE -RELATED DEVELOPMENTS ON COTTON  
4 June 2019 
STATEMENT BY THE CO -SPONSORS OF THE SECTORAL INITIATIVE IN FAVOUR OF COTTON1 
The following statement, dated 4 June 2019, is being circulated at the request of the delegation 
of Benin on behalf of the co -sponsors of the Sectoral Initiative in Favour of Cotton . 
 
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FIRST EDITION OF WORLD COTTON DAY  
The C4 Group thanks the WTO Secretariat for providing updated information regarding the 
first edition of World Cotton Day, which is to be held in Geneva on 7 October  2019, and for being so  
active ly involve d in organizing this event . 
 
The C4 wishes to express its profound grat itude to the Government of the People's Republic of China, 
through China's  Permanent Mission in Geneva, for its support in organizing this important gathering , 
including for taking charge of the logistical arrangements for the participation of creators, designers  
and stylists from the C4 countries . 
 
The C4 is very grateful to the Executive Director of the International Trade Centre (ITC) for the 
technical and financial support that her agency is providing to the Group for this first World Cotton 
Day, most notably for its  funding of activities relating to the fashion show in which creators, 
designers and stylists from African countries and , in particular , each of the C4 countries, 
will participate . 
 
The Group also wishes to thank all the WTO Members that  have shown support for this initiative . 
 
The World Cotton Day initiative, launched by the C4 in collaboration with the World Trade 
Organization (WTO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United 
Nations Conference on Trade and  Development (UNCTAD ), the International Trade Centre (ITC) and 
the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), reflects cotton's  historical importance as a 
global commodity, one that plays a vital role for many countries world wide and that directly be nefits 
the populations of producer countries , and their economies, most notably African countries  and least 
developed countries (LDCs) , and the C4 countries in particular . 
 
Indeed, cotton production and the cotton trade provide a means of subsistence for tens of  million s 
of people throughout the world, with direct economic and social impacts, particularly on poverty 
reduction, economic growth , and eco nomic and social development, especially in LDCs , all of which  
is clearly aligned with the  United Nations  Sustainable Development Goals . 
 
It is there fore key that the United Nations' agenda include a day dedicated to cotton , one on which 
this important commodity can be celebrated each year throughout the world . 
                                                
1 Benin, Burkina Faso, Mali and Chad (C4).  TN/AG/41 • TN/AG/SCC/12  
- 2 - 
   
The C4 would like to inform WTO Members that the Beninese authorities have, on behalf of the 
Group, taken the necessary steps, with the relevant services of the United Nations Secretariat in 
New York, with a view to the declaration by the United Nations General A ssembly of 7 October  as 
World Cotton Day . 
 
The month of October was chosen to celebrate World Cotton Day as it marks the beginning of the 
cotton -harvesting season in the tropics and is also the birthday month of Mahatma Gandhi, a symbol 
for peace, dignity and development, whose link with cotton is  well known . 
 
We expect the participation of a number of Heads of State and Government, as well as Ministers of 
trade and agriculture, and other senior Government representatives, and invite  all WTO  Members to 
ensure they are represented at the highest level at this important gathering . 
 
Several international, regional and sub -regional organizations and relevant non -governmental 
organizations, as well as academic and research circles, the private sector, producer umbrella 
associations, and civil society , will be represented at this global event . 
 
We count on the cooperation and support of all WTO Members to make this World Cotton Day launch 
event , here at the WTO on 7 October  2019, a success . 
 
__________