WT/CFMC/W/78  
24 April 2019 
(19-2783) Page: 1/2 
Sub-Committee on Cotton  Original:  French  
 
  
THE DIRECTOR -GENERAL 'S CONSULTATIVE  
FRAMEWORK MECHANISM ON COTTON  
DOMESTIC REFORMS IN THE COTTON SECTOR AN D OTHER REFORMS  
Communication by Mali 
The following communication,  dated  18 February , is being distributed at the request of the delegation 
of Mali. 
 
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1  BACKGROUND  AND JUSTIFICATION  
1.1.  The delegation of  Mali wishes to express its gratitude to the  Director -General of the World  Trade 
Organization (WTO)  for his interest  in African cotton . 
1.2.  Accounting for  15% of GDP  and 22% of export revenue , cotton holds a strategic place in the 
country's economy . Moreover , cotton represents the livelihood of some  4.4 million  people , thus 
helping to reduce poverty in rural areas . In addition , under the  2013-2018 strategic development 
plan of the  Mali Textile Development Company  (CMDT) , special  emphasis has been placed on g iving 
access to women and young people  to production factors such as  land, inputs, agricultural equipment 
and loans. All of this has helped to keep young people  in their places of origin,  thus reducing an  
exodus from rural areas and illegal immigration . 
1.3.  With a view to achieving balanced development , the Malian State's reform of the cotton sector  
is being pursued . In this vein, the recommendations issued by the brainstorming workshop on 
revitalization of the cotton sector are being implemented .  
1.4.  Several  actions have already been taken, notably : 
a. Re-organization of the  CMDT : 
• a study to produce a new  CMDT  organigram is being finalized ; 
• a CMDT  manual is being finalized ; 
• a study on organization of the  CMDT  is being completed , under which the current 
holdin g/subsidiaries  arrangement will be replaced by  a new cotton company  by merging 
these subsidiaries with the Cotton Grading Board (OCC);  
• assessment of the  2013-2018 strategic d evelopment p lan and drawing up of a new 
strategic plan for 2018-2023.  
b. Strengthening the industrial plant and equipment : 
• completion of the moderni zation programme and upgrading of three ginning mills in  Dioila, 
Koumantou and Sikasso 2;  
• construction of  Kadiolo; and 
• modernization of the OCC's cotton grading room . WT/CFMC/W/78  
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  c. Capacity -building of produ cers: 
• put in place staff of umbrella organizations , i.e. the Union o f Communal Cotton Producers , 
the Regional Federation and  the National Confederation ; 
• provide umbrella organizations with transportation ; 
• train members of the  Cotton Trade Association (IPC) in develop ing business plans . 
1.5.  In terms of cott on production , as part of the  2017/2018  campaign , some  728,644 tonnes of 
seed cotton were produced , against an estimated production of  725,000 tonnes, i.e. a yield of  
100.5%. 
1.6.  This represents a significant increase – 12.5% – compared with the previous campaign,  which 
had rec orded 647,300 tonnes of seed cotton . 
1.7.  These results should not mask the major difficulties  our countries are facing , due mainly  to 
efforts aimed at securing domestic support  and other types of subsidies that lead to distortions o n 
the global cotton market , which  are harmful to African cotton holdings . 
1.8.  That is why we will never tire of insisting on the need to honour commitments made at the 
various WTO ministerial meetings for a fair and just solution for African cotton.  
1.9.  On this hopeful note , we would like to  thank all our partners for their unwavering support for 
the cotton sector.  
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