TN/AG/SCC/W/33  
WT/CFMC/61  
 
20 July 2020  
(20-4751) Page: 1/8 
Sub-Committee on Cotton  Original: English  
 
WTO LAUNCH OF WORLD COTTON DAY (WCD) – 7 OCTOBER 2019  
REPORT  
1.  On 7 October 2019, the WTO hosted the launch of World Cotton Day (WCD)  to showcase the 
contributions derived  from cotton  by economies worldwide . The event offered a unique  opportunity 
for participants from around  the world to: (i)  establish networks ; (ii) keep abreast of the latest 
developments  on cotton production and trade ; and (iii)  discuss cotton -related  challenges from 
national, regional and international perspectives , including for  the most impoverished regions of 
the world.  
2.  The WCD launch event was organized at the request of  the Cotton -4 (Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad 
and Mali)1, to support their draft UN Resolution for an annual da y to celebrate the importance of 
cotton  as a global commodity . 
3.  The launch event was organized by  the WTO Secretariat , in collaboration with the Secretariats 
of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations  (FAO); the International Trade 
Centre  (ITC); the United Nations Conference for Trade and Development  (UNCTAD); and the 
International Cotton Advisory Committee  (ICAC).  
4.  WTO Deputy Director -General Alan Wm.  Wolff chaired WTO internal preparation s and the  
cross-divisional ta sk force group created for the event.2 
5.  The launch  event at the WTO was attended by over 800 participants, including eight Ministers 
from seven WTO Members3, high-level officials,  heads of international organizations, Geneva -based 
delegates and the global cotton community - national growers associations, traders, inspection 
services providers , cotton promoters, development assistance partners , scientists, scholars , 
retailers,  brand  representatives , and the private sector.  
6.  Two high -level activities and five t hematic sessions were organized during  the day, with the 
participation of key cotton experts on trade, value addition, sustainability, technology , innovation, 
and market outlook :  
• Special High -level Meeting (Opening Session ); 
• Partners' Conference on support for cotton and cotton by -products ; 
• WTO Session on Trade ; 
• UNCTAD and ITC Session on Value addition ; 
• FAO Session on Sustainability ; 
• ICAC Session on Market outlook ; 
• UNIDO Session on Technology and Innovation . 
 
1 The co -authors of the 2003 WTO Sectorial Initiative on Cotton.  
2 Administration and General Services Division; Agriculture and Commodities Division; Council and TNC 
Division; Information and External Relations Division; Institute for Training and Technical Cooperation; 
Languages, Documentation and Information Management Division; Office of Deputy Director -General Wolff; 
Office of the Director -General.  
3 From Angola, Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chad, India (who donated a cotton spinning wheel, also 
known as charkha, to the WTO to mark the occasion) and Mali.  TN/AG/SCC/W/33 • WT/CFMC/61  
 
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  7.  The launch event also showcased  technologi cal innovations, including : a new ICAC virtual reality 
training tool for cotton growers ; technologies applicable to cotton traceability through 
DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) ; on-line cotton information platforms ; and applied  development 
assistance programmes. Exhibitors presented cotton products of different origins and varieties, as 
well as various  products derived from cotton and its extensive value chain, including cotton 
by-products.  
8.  The launch  event also constituted a n important moment for cotton trade -related  negotiations at 
the WTO . Ministers from Benin, Brazil, Burkina Faso, and Chad as well as Heads of Delegations and 
representatives from China, Côte d'Ivoire, the European Union, India, Mali and the United States  of 
America attended a high -level session on trade and  issued a Joint Statement on the WTO  cotton 
negotiations.4 The Joint S tatement  confirmed the commitment of participants to intensify discussions 
focusing on factors negatively impacting cotton trade and markets and to pursue  efforts aimed at 
enhancing transparency and monitoring of cotton -related tr ade measures affecting the global cotton 
market.  
9.  The day was concluded by a Cotton -4 Ministers Press Conference ; a Fashion  Show  sponsored 
by ITC and Mali; and a reception hosted by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale 
Zusammenarbeit  (GIZ). 
10.  Reports  on the Opening session, the Partner's Conference and the thematic sessions can be 
found in Annex I.  
11.  Several  other initiatives were carried out  to mark the occasion , including : 
• Joint Publication  on "Why cotton matters" : with statements from WTO  Director -General , 
FAO D irector -General , UNCTAD Secretary General , ITC Executive Director, ICAC Executive 
Director, the Cotton -4; as well as  testimonials from the International Cotton Association  (ICA) , 
African Cotton Association, Brazilian Cotton Growers Association  (ABRAPA) , China Cotton 
Association  (CCA) , French Cotton Association  (AFCOT) , Cotton Australia, , Indian Cotton 
Grower s, C&A, Esquel Group, and Wakefield Inspection Services.  
• Videos : by WTO D irector -General , the Chair of the WTO Agriculture negotiations, 
ITC Executive Director , ICAC E xecutive Director , Minister of Trade of Benin, the Ambassadors 
of Benin, Chad, Burkina  Faso, Brazil, China, India, and by the Assistant S ecretary General of 
the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (ACP) . 
• Pop-up store  (sponsored by ITC/AFREXIMBANK) : displaying the creations of  
Alphadi  (Niger) ; Bazem 'se (Burkina  Faso);  Ikalook  (Mali);  Awa Meite (Mali);  Zenab  
Création  (Chad); Karitediema (Senegal); Leydii  (Mali); Mamysor (Burkina Faso);  Association 
Des Tisseuses Teega -Wende (Burkina  Faso) ; and Lolo Andoche  (Benin). 
• Fashion Show  (sponsored by ITC  and CMDT Mali ): showcasing cotton fashion and design s 
of Alphadi (Niger); Bazem 'se (Burkina Faso); Maïmour (Mali); Zenab Création ( Chad); and 
Lolo Andoche (B enin). 
• Stands:  The Brazilian  Cooperation Agency (ABC) , China, India, Pakistan, Uzbekistan, ITC, 
UNIDO, FAO, Haelixa, Inclusive Trade, SOCiLA, C -4 Producers ( Centre Malien du 
Dévelop pement Textile  – Mali; Cotontchad.SN – Chad; Projet de Mode Ethique au Mali de 
l'ITC – Mali; Société Burkinabè des Fibres Textiles (Sofitex) – Burkina Faso) and 
AFREXIMBANK.  
• Exhibitions:  India Cotton Exhibition (which included an on -site demonstration of the use of 
a spinning  wheel to thread cotton) ; and a US Exhibition by Cotton Council International, Cotton 
Incorporated and Supima . 
 
4 Document JOB/AG/165 -TN/AG/SCC/GEN/21 dated 10 October 2019.  TN/AG/SCC/W/33 • WT/CFMC/61  
 
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  • Photo Contest  (sponsored by ICAC  and Cotton Incorporated ): Prize winner s from fo ur 
categories  ("From the field", "To the fibre", Made with cotton" and "Women in cotton ") were 
awarded  a trip to attend the WCD launch  at the WTO . 
• Dedicated  Social Media  channels; as well as  a live on -line tour and webcasts  of the  
Opening session , the Partners' Conference, and the Press Conference . 
• Global Activities: 12 countries  and over 20 institutions  - including NGOs, governmental 
agencies, private companies, international organisations, students, public health 
professionals, media organi zations and  individuals - hosted or perform ed events to mark the 
day. The se global celebrations launch ed cotton campaigns in different part s of the world  to: 
o Increase understanding of cotton -related issues among the general and specialized publics;  
o Explain how cotto n production can be improved and identify challenges faced by local 
stakeholders;  
o Increase commitment from local leaders/politicians/government to improve cotton 
production/research/trade;  and 
o Mobilize new groups and constituencies t o voice the necessity and need for better cotton 
production.  
12.  The World Cotton Day launch event was praised by the Cotton -4, WTO Members , the global 
cotton community and the  media  as a "resounding success".  All participants expressed the hope that 
the success of t he WTO launch event will pave the way for the expedited adoption of an UN General 
Assembly resolution recognizing 7 October as World Cotton Day.  
 
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  ANNEX I  
 
REPORTS - OPENING  SESSION, PARTNERS' CONFERENCE  AND THEMATIC SESSIO NS  
1. Special high -level meeting - Opening session  
Speakers  
 ▪ H.E. Ms. Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, WTO , General Council Chairperson ; 
 
▪ Mr. Roberto Azevêdo, WTO , Director -General ; 
 
▪ H.E. Ms . Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, Benin 's Trade Minister ; 
 
▪ H.E. Mr. Harouna Kabore, Burkina Faso 's Trade Minister ; 
 
▪ H.E. Ms . Achta Djibrine, Chad 's Trade Minister ; 
 
▪ H.E. Mr. Moulaye Ahmed Boubacar, Mali 's Minister of Agriculture ; 
 
▪ H.E. Ms. Tereza Cristina Dias, Brazil's Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and  Food Supply ; 
 
▪ H.E. Ms. Smriti  Zubin Irani, India's Union Minister of Textiles ; 
 
▪ H.E. Mr. Ambassador Xiangchen Zhang, China's Permanent Representative to the  WTO; 
 
▪ Mr. Dongyu Qu , FAO , Director -General ; 
 
▪ Ms. Arancha González , ITC, Executive Director ; 
 
▪ Ms. Isabelle Durant, UNCTAD , Deputy Secretary -General ; 
 
▪ Mr. Kai Hughes , ICAC , Executive Director . 
 
Summary  Director -General  Azevêdo  stressed the importance of shedding light on the linkages between 
trade, cotton and development. He further r ecalled that there is still much work to be done to 
level the playing field for cotton producers, especially in LDCs.  Director -General Azevêdo's 
opening remarks are available  here. 
Minister Shadiya Alimatou Assouman from Benin underlined cotton's substantial contribution 
to poverty reduction, education, health care, economic gro wth, peace, dignity and prosperity. 
She also highlighted the significant  social impact of cotton for young people and rural 
communities in cotton growing areas.  
Minster Harouna Kabore from Burkina Faso said that although cotton remains Burkina  Faso's 
main agricultural export , contribut ing more than 10% of the country's  GDP, almost all the 
production is exported without any processing. He further described measures being 
undertaken  to boost local processing and consumption of cotton products.  
Minister Moula ye Ahmed Boubacar from Mali referred  to the longstanding issue of domestic 
support  negotiations  at the WTO . He stressed that African cotton represents 10% of world 
production  and, that despite its qualities, African  cotton faces stiff competition, particul arly 
from the estimated $5.9 billion of domestic support disbursed in 2017/2018 by some countries 
to their producers. He urged WTO  Members to address th e issue, in line with t he 2004 WTO 
General Council Decision  to address cotton "ambitiously, expeditiously and specifically within 
the agriculture negotiations ". 
Minister Achta Djibrine from Chad reaffirmed the C -4 commitment to the multilateral trading 
system and to  finding fair, balanced and sustainable solutions to trade-distorting subsidies  at 
the WTO . She urged WTO Members to find solutions for the millions of Africans unjustly 
deprived of the fruit of their labour. She stated that C had favours a combination of a level trade 
playing field and coordinated development assistance, to ensure the s ustainability of cotton 
sectors and of the overall economic  development for African countries.  
A video documenting the full session, including the statements made by Brazil, China, India, 
FAO, UNCTAD, ITC and ICAC, is available here. 
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  2. Partners'  Conference  on support for cotton and cotton by -products  
Moderator  ▪ WTO Deputy Director -General Alan Wm. Wolff  
Speakers  
 ▪ Keynote speech by S.E. M s. Shadiya Alimatou Assouman, Minister of Industry and 
Commerce, B enin; 
 
▪ Benin: Mr. Jean -Bernard Favi, Director -General for Commerce ; 
 
▪ Brazil: H.E. Amb. Demétrio Carvalho , vice -President, Brazilian Cooperation Agency (ABC) ; 
 
▪ Burkina Faso: Mr. Seydou Ilboudo , Conseiller des Affaires Économiques ; 
 
▪ Chad: Mr. Souleyman Abakar Ahmat, EIF Focal Point ; 
 
▪ China: Dr. Gong Xifeng, Counsellor of Chinese Mission to WTO ; 
 
▪ European Commission: H.E. Dr. Leonard Mizzi, DG -DEVCO, EU Commission,  on behalf of 
Commissioner Neven Mimica ; 
 
▪ India: H.E. Mr . J S Deepak, India's Ambassador & Permanent Representative to  WTO; 
 
▪ Mali: Mr. Doumbia Boucadary, Directeur General du Commerce ; 
 
▪ Mozambique: Ambassador of Mozambique to the WTO ; 
 
▪ Tanzania: Mr . Marco Mtunga, President of the African Cotton Association, intervening on 
behalf of the EIF Focal Point of Tanzania ; 
 
▪ Uganda: Mr. Frederick Itungulu, on behalf of EIF Focal Point ; 
 
▪ Zambia: Ms. Lillian Bwalya, Director Foreign Trade ; 
 
▪ Togo: Mr. Talime Abe, Directeur commerce intérieur ; 
 
▪ Malawi: Ambassador of Malawi to the WTO ; 
 
▪ Agence Française de Développement (AFD): Mr. Christian Fusillier, Responsable de la 
Division Agriculture, Développement rural et Biodiversité, Agence Française de 
Développement ; 
 
▪ Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF): Mr. Simon Hess, Head, Monitoring and Evaluation, 
EIF Secretariat ; 
 
▪ Mr. Anders Aeroe, Director, Division of Enterprises and Institutions, ITC ; 
 
▪ Ms. Pamela  Coke-Hamilton, Director, Division on International Trade and 
Commodities,  UNCTAD ; 
 
▪ UNIDO: Mr. Riccardo Savigliano, Chief of the Agro -Industries Technology Division, UNIDO . 
Summary  The Partners ' Conference marked the  high-level reaffirmation  of support for  various  new 
initiatives in favor of  the cotton  sector in Africa. It  gathered and established  a solid network of 
donors and beneficiaries engaged towards effective assistance to the cotton sector.   
Ten major cotton producing African countries, all LDCs, intervened  to highlight their needs and 
priorities in terms of cotton -specific development cooperation activities. Donors committed to 
support the cotton sector in beneficiary countries, for instance with the development of new 
cotton by -product value chains.  
Discu ssions highlighted inter alia  that c otton by -products – such as cottonseed oil for human 
consumption or cottonseed meal for livestock – present untapped economic potential  to 
increase farmers and processors' revenues and resilience to price shocks , particu larly in Africa.  
Donors and beneficiaries committed  to pursue the objective of fully exploiting such potential.   
 
All the statements made at the event are available here. A video  documenting  the full session 
is available here.  
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  3. WTO S ession : 2020 Cotton Harvesting Year – The road ahead for the cotton 
negotiations  
Moderator  ▪ H.E. Mr. Ambassador  John Ronald Dipchandra (Deep) Ford,  Chair of the CoA Special 
Session  
Speakers  
 ▪ Mr. Crawford  Falconer, Former Chair of the Committee on Agriculture Special Session ; 
 
▪ H.E Ms . Alimatou Shadiya Assouman, Minister of Industry and Trade of Benin 
(C-4 coordinator) ; 
 
▪ Mr. Harouna Kabore, Minister of Trade, Industry and Handicrafts of Burkina Faso ; 
 
▪ Ms. Achta Djibrine Sy, Minister of Trade, Industry and Private Sector Promotion of Chad; 
 
▪ H.E. Ms . Tereza Cristina Dias, Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply of Brazil ; 
 
▪ H.E. Mr. Xiangchen Zhang, Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the WTO of China ; 
 
▪ H.E. Mr . Dennis Shea, Ambassador, Permanent Representative to the WTO of 
the United  States ; 
 
▪ Mr. Paolo Garzotti, Deputy Permanent Representative of the European Union . 
 
Summary  JOB/AG/165  
TN/AG/SCC/GEN/21  
 
"We, the Ministers and High -Level Representatives of Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, 
Côte d'Ivoire, Brazil, China, the European Union, India and the United States met in Geneva on 
7 October  2019, on the occasion of the WTO World Cotton D ay launch, and participated in the 
Ministerial Trade Session on Cotton organized by the Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture 
in Special Session.  
 
We exchanged views on the state of play in the WTO negotiations on cotton and agree as 
follows:   
 
Recognizing the importance of cotton production and trade for farmers, we will intensify our 
discussions on factors negatively impacting cotton trade and markets. We will continue our 
efforts aimed at enhancing transparency and monitoring of cotton -related  trade measures 
affecting the global cotton market.  
 
We invite all WTO Members to work with us in the Committee on Agriculture in Special Session 
so as to make progress on this issue. " 
 
 
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  4. UNCTAD  and ITC S ession : Value addition for a resilient cotton secto r in Africa  
Moderator  ▪ Ms. Elke Hortmeyer, Director, Bremen Cotton Exchange  
Speakers  
 ▪ Ms. Dorothy Tembo, Deputy Executive Director, ITC ; 
 
▪ Mr. Marco Mtunga, President, African Cotton Association/Director -General, Tanzania 
Cotton Board ; 
 
▪ Mr. Joseph Nkole, Chief Executive Officer, Mumbwa Ginnery Limited/Chairman, Cotton 
Association of Zambia ; 
 
▪ Mr. Christian Schindler, Director -General, International Textile Manufacturers 
Federation  (ITMF) ; 
 
▪ Mr. Sidahmed Alphadi Seidnaly, alia ALPHADI, Fashi on Designer, Niger . 
 
Summary  In many cotton -producing countries in Africa, textile and apparel industries collapsed in the 
1990s and have yet to recover. As a result, these countries export nearly all their lint without 
adding any value to the fibre. Apar t from crushing cotton seed, they also add relatively little 
value to by -products, such as stalks, linters or ginning and spinning residues. Generating little 
value added, the cotton sector therefore relies on volatile international markets. Meanwhile, 
risk-averse farmers have reacted to volatile prices by growing less cotton, creating a vicious 
cycle, in which lower production of raw material represents the main impediment to new 
value -added processing activities in Africa.  
Policies to build a more resilient cotton sector in Africa must therefore develop value -added 
activities that contribute to increased and diversified revenues and thus incentives for farmers 
to grow more cotton.  
In this session, experts shared their persp ectives and success stories on how African countries 
can reimagine the cotton -to-clothing value chain and capitalize on cotton by -products, while 
making cotton more profitable for farmers.  
 
 
5. FAO S ession : Market and policy trends in the cotton sector: pros pects for sustainability  
Moderator  
 ▪ Mr. Máximo Torero  Cullen , Assistant  Director -General, Economic and Social Development 
Department, FAO  
 
Speakers  
 ▪ Mr. Dongyu  Qu, FAO Director -General ; 
 
▪ Mr. El Mamoun Amrouk, Economist, Trade & Markets Division, FAO ; 
 
▪ H.E. Madjidian Padja Ruth, Minister of Production, Irrigation and Agricultural Equipment of 
Chad; 
 
▪ H.E. Khurram Dastgir Khan, Member of the National Assembly and former Minister of 
Pakistan ; 
 
▪ Ms. Alia Malik, Director of Implementation, Better Cotton Initiative, UK . 
Summary  This side event assessed plausible scenarios of key market trends that are likely to affect the 
cotton market over the coming decade, including the relationship between man -made fibres 
and natural fibres as well as the extent to which technology can alter that relationship. This 
can serve to inform and support policy -making processes at various levels in the formulation 
and execution of policies and investment strategies to ensure a more sustainable cotton 
sector.  
 
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  6. UNIDO S ession : Key innovation themes for a sustainable, competitive and efficient  
cotton -textile industry  
Moderator  
 ▪ Ms. Piera Francesca  Solinas (UNIDO)  
Speakers  
 ▪ Mr. Marco  Marzoli, Filmar group ; 
 
▪ Mr. Mohamed  Negm, Cotton research institute, Egypt ; 
 
▪ Mr. Cristian Locatelli , Camozzi group ; 
 
▪ Mr. Heinz  Zeller, Hugo Boss ; 
 
▪ Ms. Natalia Papu Carrone, Circle economy ; 
 
▪ Mr. Cristian  Locatelli, Camozzi group . 
 
Summary  The primary objective of the side event was to shed light on the innovation and technology 
drivers that are shaping the development for a competitive and sustainable cotton -textile 
industry. Specific focus was given to how companies in the sector can count erbalance the 
adverse effects that automation can cause with regards to employment, especially in 
developing countries.  
 
The panel also depicted key market trends and consumers patterns that are affecting fashion -
textile industry and illustrate to which e xtent innovation and technology can help to effectively 
and sustainably respond to consumers demands.  
 
Examples of recycling and upcycling in textile were presented and discussed.  
 
Transparency and traceability of supply chains was also discussed as a cu rrent priority for the 
industry to increase effective and sustainable management of value chains: manufacturers 
are often unable to "tell the story " behind their goods and how their goods are produced and 
move down the value chain into retail outlets.  
 
7. ICAC S ession : Plotting the future path for cotton  
Moderator  
 ▪ Mr. Allan McClay, CEO of Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)  
Speakers  
 ▪ Ms. Cecilia  Brannsten, Environmental Sustainability Manager, H&M Group ; 
 
▪ Ms. Anita Chester, Head of Sustainable Raw Materials, C&A Foundation ; 
 
▪ Mr. J. Berrye Worsham, CEO, Cotton Incorporated ; 
 
▪ Mr. Mark Jarvis, Managing Director, World Textile Information Network (WTIN) ; 
 
▪ Mr. YC Man, Head of Cotton Operations, Esquel Group ; 
 
▪ Ms. Lacy Vardeman, Partner with Vardeman Farms, Texas . 
Summary  Industry experts from the cotton and textile supply chain discussed  how the future of cotton 
will be impacted by many fac tors beyond the farm, and even beyond the supply chain.  
The challenges of sustainability — in all aspects, including social, economic and environmental 
future — will require innovative new solutions that take advantage of cutting -edge 
technologies to tackl e: 
• Climate change ; 
• Population growth ; 
• Least developed countries ; 
• Consumer preferences and activism ; 
• Plastic pollution . 
 
 
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