In pursuit of shaping global policy on the cotton sector, the Organisation of African, Caribbean, and Pacific States (OACPS) participated in the World Cotton Day celebrations held in Cotonou, Benin, on 7 October 2024.—the first time this annual event was hosted by an African country—highlighting Africa’s significant role in the global cotton industry. Under the theme “Cotton for Good,” the event organized by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) aimed to enhance the livelihoods of cotton farmers through sustainability, job creation, and economic opportunities.   The Secretariat was represented by Mrs Yvonne Chileshe, Expert Value Chains and Trade.

The event was inaugurated by H.E. Moussa Alassane Diallo, Mali’s Minister of Trade and Coordinator of the Cotton Four” (C4) countries countries, alongside distinguished figures including Trade Ministers from the remaining C4 countries, Director-General of the WTO, Director-General of the ILO, President of FIFA, Director-General of the FAO, and Executive Director of the International Cotton Advisory Council (ICAC). The WTO-FIFA “Partenariat pour le Coton” initiative was a focal point of the meeting. The OACPS has formally applied to join the Partenariat pour le Coton, in recognition of the transformative potential of this initiative to promote sustainable growth and support its member countries in unlocking new opportunities within the cotton industry.

The event also featured a fashion show showcasing African designers supported by the ACP-EU Business-Friendly Programme, emphasizing the OACPS’s commitment to fostering industry growth and innovation. Attendance of the 2024 edition of World Cotton Day allowed the OACPS to engage with a series of key partners and stakeholders. Most notably, a bilateral held with ICAC allowed for a review of the outcome of the May 2024 meeting in Geneva, and prioritisation of collaborative tasks. An exchange held with the WTO Secretariat resulted in greater clarity on the process of joining the Cotton Partnership initiative. During a meeting with the Burkina Faso National Focal Point for the Business-Friendly Programme, the Secretariat was informed on the country’s capacity building focus, namely, on organic cotton production; spinning and weaving; facilitating access to raw material (organic cotton fibre, industrial yarn suitable for crafts, hand-spun organic cotton); and access to new markets (local and foreign).