Minutes

58th Meeting of the Expert Panel on Social, Environmental, and Economic Performance of Cotton Production – SEEP

Tuesday, 19 March 2024, 11:00 am Bremen Time

In-Person and Virtual – Teams

 

 

Members:

Allan Williams, Australia

Jens Soth, Helvetas

Bruno Bachelier, CIRAD

Ryan Kurtz, USA

Natalie Ernst, BCI

Elke Hortmeyer, Bremen Cotton Exchange

Leon Picon, Türkiye

 

            Observers:

Kater Hake, former SEEP member, USA

Mark Messura, Cotton Inc, USA

Neal Gillen, USA

Terry Townsend, USA

Philippe Saner, Head Sustainability, Reinhart

Long Nguyen, Dragontextiles 2, Vietnam

Wolfgang Bertenbreiter, CmiA/AbTF

Fatih Dogan, Türkiye

 

ICAC Secretariat:

Lorena Ruiz, Economist

Keshav Kranthi, Chief Scientist

Usman Kanwar, Head of Textiles

Eric Trachtenberg, Executive Director

 

  1. Introduction and Approval of the Minutes from the Meeting in India

The meeting commenced with each participant introducing themselves. Allan Williams, Chair of SEEP, expressed his regret for being unable to attend the meeting in person. Lorena Ruiz, ICAC secretariat, informed attendees that the Regenerative Agriculture practices report in English was already available on the ICAC website.

  1. Presentation on Regenerative Agriculture Gap Assessment Study in Tanzania – Philippe Saner Reinhart

Dr. Philippe Saner introduced himself and provided a context for his involvement and presentation at the meeting. He outlined his responsibility for sustainability at Reinhart and mentioned a specific project that had been conducted recently in Tanzania. This project was related to regenerative agriculture practices and their implementation among Tanzanian cotton farming groups. The main findings from his presentation included:

  • Partial Implementation of Regenerative Practices: The study revealed that while some regenerative practices were being implemented, there was significant variation among the groups assessed. The level of implementation ranged from partial to more advanced, indicating a spectrum of adoption rates across different entities.
  • Challenges in Crop Production Practices: Key challenges were identified in implementing regenerative practices related to crop production, such as cover cropping, crop rotation, and intercropping. Factors like land size, ownership, and existing regulations (e.g., the ban on intercropping by the Tanzania Cotton Board) were cited as barriers.
  • Agroforestry and Livestock Management: The study highlighted agroforestry and regenerative livestock management as areas with room for improvement. These practices were not fully adopted due to various challenges, including land availability for planting perennial crops and the need for better animal welfare awareness and practices.
  • Biodiversity, Water, and Energy Considerations: Biodiversity protection, water management, and energy usage were identified as areas where regenerative practices could be enhanced. Specifically, the study pointed to the need for better management around watercourses, rainwater harvesting techniques, and renewable energy sources, noting that current energy and water management practices were not aligned with regenerative standards.
  • Soil Health and Management Practices: A significant finding was the lack of soil health monitoring, such as soil tests and analysis, which are crucial for assessing and improving soil quality under regenerative agriculture. This gap underscores the need for training and resources to enable farmers to conduct soil health assessments effectively.
  • Governance and Performance: Governance-related aspects, such as labour practices and community involvement, were areas needing attention. The study called for improved training and awareness to ensure practices like child labour are properly understood and managed.
  • Economic Viability Concerns: The presentation touched on the economic considerations of transitioning to regenerative agriculture. Despite the potential for yield improvements, concerns were raised about the cost of certification, the availability of premiums for regenerative cotton, and whether these factors would be sufficient to offset the additional labour and management efforts required by farmers.

 

Q&A Session

Following the presentation, there was an interactive question-and-answer session. Participants inquired about specific aspects of the study, including methodologies, results, and the potential for scaling up regenerative practices in Tanzania and other regions:

  • A question about the specific reasons why certain regenerative practices were not fully implemented was asked. Dr. Saner explained that the challenges were multifaceted, including technical hurdles, legal restrictions on practices like intercropping, and a lack of awareness or training among farmers. He highlighted that, despite these challenges, there was a positive disposition towards adopting regenerative practices.
  • The topic of zero tillage was brought up, questioning its evaluation in the study. Dr. Saner acknowledged the importance of zero tillage in regenerative agriculture for improving soil health but indicated that more training and demonstration projects might be necessary to convince farmers of its benefits.
  • The discussion touched on the economic viability of regenerative practices. Questions were raised about how these practices impact yield and whether the additional labour costs could be offset by premium pricing for regenerative cotton. Dr. Saner pointed out that while organic cotton production in Tanzania resulted in a yield increase, it also incurred higher costs, making the sustainability of premiums a critical factor.
  • Another line of questioning involved the assessment of carbon sequestration and other environmental benefits of regenerative practices. Dr. Saner mentioned that soil health assessments and carbon measurements were part of the standards being considered, but the depth and methodology of these assessments varied.

Discussion and Points Raised

  1. Economic Viability and Market Dynamics

A significant portion of the dialogue centered on the economic aspects of implementing regenerative practices. Participants debated the viability of such practices without a guaranteed premium for regenerative cotton. The concerns were twofold: the potential increase in production costs and whether the market is willing to compensate for these additional expenses. It was acknowledged that while organic cotton production in Tanzania had led to yield improvements, the higher costs associated with organic farming highlighted the need for a sustainable premium to make it economically viable.

  1. Soil Health and Carbon Sequestration

The discussions delved into the importance of soil health, with a focus on practices like zero tillage and cover cropping. The role of regenerative agriculture in enhancing carbon sequestration was highlighted as a critical environmental benefit. However, participants noted the challenges in measuring and verifying the impact on carbon levels, emphasizing the need for accessible and reliable methods for soil health assessment and carbon measurement.

  1. Training and Capacity Building

The necessity for comprehensive training and capacity-building programs emerged as a consensus among the participants. It was recognized that for regenerative agriculture to be successfully implemented, farmers need more support in understanding and adopting new practices. This includes overcoming technical barriers, enhancing knowledge on the benefits of regenerative practices, and addressing misconceptions about soil management and crop rotation.

  1. Policy and Legal Frameworks

The discussions touched on the need for supportive policy and legal frameworks to facilitate the adoption of regenerative practices. This includes revisiting regulations that currently hinder practices like intercropping and exploring policies that encourage sustainable agriculture practices. Participants urged for advocacy efforts to influence policy changes that support regenerative agriculture.

  1. Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement

A recurring theme in the discussions was the importance of collaboration among all stakeholders in the cotton supply chain. From farmers and traders to researchers and policymakers, there was a call for a unified approach to promote regenerative agriculture. Participants discussed the potential for partnerships to conduct further research, share best practices, and pilot innovative projects that could demonstrate the benefits of regenerative practices on a larger scale.

Follow-Up Actions Proposed

To address the insights and challenges discussed, several follow-up actions were proposed:

  • Enhanced Data Collection: Initiatives to gather more comprehensive data on the impacts of regenerative practices, including yield improvements, soil health benefits, and economic viability.
  • Policy Advocacy: Efforts to engage with policymakers and regulatory bodies to create a more conducive environment for regenerative agriculture.
  • Research and Pilot Projects: The establishment of research projects and pilot programs to test and demonstrate the effectiveness of regenerative practices in various contexts.
  • Farmer Support Programs: Development of training and support programs for farmers to facilitate the transition to regenerative practices.
  • Market Development: Strategies to develop markets for regenerative cotton, including exploring opportunities for premiums and other incentives.

 

  1. Regenerative Agriculture Practices – Second Phase

Towards the end of the meeting, discussions centered around the next steps for advancing the implementation of regenerative agriculture (Regen Ag) practices. Allan Williams, chair of SEEP, highlighted ongoing work on a Phase Two report, which aims to build upon the foundational insights provided in the Phase One report. The approach includes engaging with individual panel members through interviews conducted by Dr. Kater Hake.

Follow-Up Actions Proposed

Several follow-up actions were proposed:

  • Interviews with Panel Members: Kater Hake is set to conduct interviews with panel members to gather their insights and opinions on the next steps for promoting Regen Ag practices. These discussions are intended to gather diverse perspectives on regenerative agriculture practices, their implementation, and the necessary steps forward.
  • Case Studies: The development of case studies is planned as part of the Phase Two report. These case studies will explore the real-world impacts of adopting Regen Ag practices, highlighting both successes and challenges. This includes examining significant yield improvements in places like Zambia and understanding the broader implications of specific requirements set by retailers and brands.
  • Addressing Market Dynamics: The discussions acknowledged the reality of market dynamics, particularly the issue of disappearing premiums for sustainable products. This underscores the need for the cotton industry to consider the risks and rewards associated with Regen Ag practices, beyond the expectation of premium pricing.
  • Advocacy and Resource Provision: One of the outlined objectives is to equip ICAC members and governance bodies with the necessary information and resources to advocate for and implement Regen Ag practices effectively. This involves not only enhancing their understanding but also preparing them to engage in broader discussions about sustainable agriculture within the cotton industry.

 

  1. Other matters

Allan Williams expressed sincere gratitude to all participants for their active participation and valuable contributions during the meeting. The meeting was officially adjourned at 12:30 pm (Bremen time).

Dr. Khalid Mahmood is the Co-Founder of SAWiE, where he has been instrumental in developing digital farm advisory and farm data platforms supporting over 10,000 farmers in Pakistan, improving traceability and transparency across agricultural supply chains. He is leading the development of first-mile traceability systems and the TRUE Cotton platform, connecting farmers with sustainable global textile supply chains.

He also serves as Head of Partnerships at the British Society of Soil Science (BSSS), where he leads strategic collaborations to position soil health as a critical climate mitigation solution, linking soil management with carbon sequestration, water quality, air quality, and biodiversity restoration.

Trained as an Agricultural Economist (PhD, University of Göttingen, Germany), Dr. Mahmood combines strong scientific expertise with practical innovation to address global challenges in food security, ESG reporting, climate resilience, and sustainable agriculture.

His past work includes leadership in research programs on carbon reduction in rice and livestock systems, and collaboration with leading institutions such as Rothamsted Research, AHDB UK, and the Thünen Institute (Germany).

Dr. Mahmood is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and has contributed to international research and knowledge networks including IFCN and UPSIGN.

Recognized among the Net Zero 50 Leaders, he continues to advance international partnerships that place soil at the centre of regenerative agriculture, natural capital development, and ecosystem restoration.

 

Dr Olivier Zieschank studied Management at the university of Lausanne, where he graduated in 2005. Until 2010, he worked in a Swiss-based start-up that specialized in negotiating cell tower lease agreements, where he became associate director. In 2010, he returned to university and studied applied economics in Neuchatel, Switzerland. He wrote his PhD in Economics at the University of Freiberg, Germany, where he developed a theory of organization. Mr Zieschank was appointed Economist at the ITMF in August 2017 and became director in January 2021.

Ashwin Chandran holds a Bachelors Degree in Textile Technology from UMIST, UK and a Masters degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois, USA.

He is currently the Chairman of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) and it’s subsidiary - Cotton Development and Research Association – CITI CDRA. CITI-CDRA works with Indian cotton farmers and collaborates with government bodies and research institutions to improve cotton productivity, promote farmer welfare and expand the knowledge of Indian cotton farmers on the subjects of sustainability, traceability and meeting compliance and certification requirements.

He is the Chairman & Managing Director of Precot Limited, a manufacturer of yarns, threads and cotton based non-woven hygiene products.

He is the Chairman of the Indian Textile Sector Skill Council, a member of the Council of Administration of The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) and is a past Chairman of the Southern India Mills Association (SIMA).

Mr. Shreyans Gupta is an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), currently serving as First Secretary at the Embassy of India in Washington D.C. In his current role, he oversees critical portfolios within the Income-tax Overseas Unit (ITOU) and the Commerce Wing, facilitating bilateral and multilateral cooperation.

Throughout his career, Mr. Gupta has held diverse positions involving both the implementation and policy-making aspects of Indian taxation. His expertise spans complex tax audits, financial and criminal investigations, International Taxation and administration of core IT platforms/infrastructure. He has also served as a delegate of India to various international tax organizations, contributing to high-level discourse on global tax cooperation frameworks

Eric Trachtenberg is the Executive Director of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC).

Before coming to ICAC, he oversaw more than $700 million in programs to improve food security, support agricultural transformation, and strengthen land productivity at the U.S. Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC).

His earlier background includes service with USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in the Russian Federation, China, and Taiwan where he resolved agricultural market access issues totaling more than $1.3 billion, designed and led investment facilitation initiatives that generated more than $10 billion in new activity, and oversaw export development programs worth $10 million.

He has a Masters in Agricultural Economics from Michigan State University, a Masters in Public Administration from the University of Southern California, and Bachelors degrees in Government and Economics from Cornell University.

Pia Terasa joined the textile machinery manufacturer Saurer over 25 years ago. She is responsible for marketing and communications at the group level. Coming originally from a non-textile background, market intelligence and business development have played major roles throughout her career. Her current main “hobby” is closely monitoring development of the textile recycling industry and circular economy.

Dr. Md. Fakhre Alam Ibne Tabib is the former Executive Director of the Cotton Development Board of Bangladesh, with over 32 years of experience in cotton production, research, and development. He has demonstrated strong leadership and communication skills in engaging with national and international stakeholders in the cotton sector.

His expertise spans Integrated Pest Management (IPM), Integrated Crop Management (ICM), and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) with a focus on sustainable, regenerative, and organic cotton production. His research interests include high-density planting systems, planting geometry, intercropping, and innovative cropping patterns. Dr. Tabib is also proficient in ICT applications, project planning and monitoring, and scientific report writing.

Dr. Tabib has played a significant leadership role within the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), serving as Vice-Chair (2023–2024) and Chair (2024–2025) of its Standing Committee. The ICAC is an association of governments of cotton-producing, consuming, and trading countries, recognized by the United Nations as the international commodity body for cotton and related products.

In addition, he serves as Vice President of the Ecological Society of Bangladesh and contributes actively to the executive bodies of other social and scientific organizations. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Cotton Cropping Systems in 2013.

Dr. Tabib has participated in numerous international programs, conferences, and study visits related to cotton across countries including the USA, Türkiye, Uzbekistan, India, Egypt, the Philippines, South Korea, and Malaysia. He has published 12 scientific papers and several articles on cotton in reputed national and international journals and magazines. He is also an active member of multiple professional associations and networks worldwide.

Dr. Elsie Sia Kanza is the current Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United Republic of Tanzania to the United States of America and Mexico. Prior to that role, Ambassador Kanza served as Special Advisor to the President of the World Economic Forum, and, before that, Head of Africa and Member of Executive Committee for 10 years championing growth and development in Africa leveraging public private collaboration. In 2015, She was awarded a Doctorate in Business Administration (honoris causa) by the University of Strathclyde for the transformative impact achieved in Africa.

Ambassador Kanza also served in the government for a decade and a half as economic advisor to the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, as well as in various capacities with the Ministry of Finance and Central Bank of Tanzania.

In 2008, Ambassador Kanza became an Archbishop Tutu Leadership Fellow, and in 2011 a WEF Young Global Leader. She was also nominated as a Richard von Weizsacker Fellow and highlighted as one of Africa’s 50 most powerful women by Forbes in 2020. Additionally, she has served on various boards, including those of the African Leadership Institute - South Africa, Mercy Corps Europe, The Nature Conservancy Africa Council, and the Uongozi Institute.

Ambassador Kanza obtained a Bachelor’s degree from the United States International University – Africa in Business Administration and later graduated with a Master's degree in finance from the University of Strathclyde, United Kingdom and an MA in Development Economics, Center for Development Economics, Williams College, USA.

Alison Ward has over 30 years of international experience in sustainability and corporate affairs. Alison is the CEO of CottonConnect, where she leads a team of over 100 employees, impacting the lives of over 800,000 cotton farmers in India, China, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt and Bangladesh.  Under Alison’s leadership the organization: drives supply chain transparency connecting sustainable fibres from farm to store; focuses on the rights and skills of women in supply chains through pioneering gender programmes; and continues to develop innovations at a farm level. She leads cotton strategies and programmes for global brands and retailers.

Previously Alison worked with Mondelez International and Kraft Foods and was the Global Head of Corporate Responsibility at Cadbury.

With a mission to drive scalable change, Alison served as a Member of the Sustainable Cotton Steering Committee for Textile Exchange.  She sat on the Sustainability Advisory Committee for the London Olympic Games and has been a Coach and Mentor to commercial teams at WWF and the Ethical Trade Initiative. Alison is also a Life fellow of the RSA- Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.

Alison has completed the Senior Executive Programme at Ashridge Business School and the Business & Sustainability Programme at the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership. She holds a BA Hons in English from the University of Birmingham.

 

 

With more than 43 years of experience in textiles and fibre processing, Marinus has extensive commercial knowledge of all facets of the cotton production pipeline from field to fabric, specialising in yarn manufacturing and quality. Amongst others, he is a certified quality expert and is the current chair of ICAC’s Task Force for the Commercial Standardisation of Instrument Testing of Cotton. He is also an executive member of the Australian Cotton Ginners Association and the ITMF International Committee on Cotton Testing Methods. Marinus is also a member of the ITMF Spinners Committee and the Cotton Classing Association of Australia, and is the Australian fibre quality technical expert.
He has authored many articles and technical reports and has been invited to present at numerous domestic and international conferences. He has managed to secure a large and diverse number of projects, service agreements, and commission cotton textile processing work. He has won many awards, including the prestigious Australian Cotton Researcher of the Year Award.

Navdeep Singh Sodhi began his career at India’s largest cotton-textile company and has 35+ years of international experience in mill operations and management consulting. His expertise includes strategic policy, technology and international trade and investment. With experience in over 50 countries, he advises an international clientele and has conducted multiple international studies on the cotton-textile value chain. These include the global benchmarking study to evaluate the competitiveness of India’s textile industry for the Cotton Textile Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL). He contributed to the formulation of the perspective plan for the Indian textile engineering industry (TEI). Mr Sodhi has been supporting the campaign for transformation of cotton in C-4 Countries + Côte d’Ivoire in West Africa and led the flagship study in West Africa commissioned by IFC (World Bank Group) that was recently presented at the World Cotton Day 2023 commemorated under the auspices of UNIDO in Vienna. Mr Sodhi is a partner with Gherzi Textil Organisation, Switzerland, and a Chartered Fellow (C.Text FTI) of the Textile Institute in Manchester, England.

Experienced professional with over 42 years of expertise in textile plant management, business establishment, plant turnaround, managing turnkey projects and overseeing large textile operations across three continents. Successfully initiated new factories in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and North America. Has been business head responsible for P&L of large textile operation in Canada and USA.

Holds a Bachelor’s degree in Textile Technology from PSG College of Technology, India.

Key areas of expertise include:

  • Turnkey project management
  • Turnaround of large textile plants in diverse geographical locations
  • Establishment and management of businesses in various regions
  • Strategic, financial, and marketing planning and execution for textile plants
  • Product development
  • Customer relationship management

Name: Mary Concilia Anchang
Company: Onambele Anchang & Associates
Country: Cameroon
Position: Managing Partner
Website: www.oaalawfirm.com

Executive Chair

The African Chamber of Trade and Commerce ACC

Email: oaalawpartners2@gmail.com, africanchambernetwork@gmail.com

Websites www.africanchamber-abo.org  www.ficota.org

Called to the Cameroon Bar in 1993, Barrister Mary Concilia Anchang epse Onambele, is the managing partner at Onambele Anchang & Associates (OAALAW). She demonstrates consistency and dedication in 32 years of National and international legal work and advocacy. Renown for her legal prowess, her ability to delve into unconventional and controversial topics, has earned her access to several platforms at all levels, in the society. In her persuasive urge to address stubborn societal problems in the continent, she has created several tools to express her opinion and drive policy in a wide range of business sectors. She addresses legal, social and economic problems, with the perspective to contribute in crafting novel schemes, policies and practices to oblige relevance and impact for the welfare and livelihood of communities.

Her law practice, a full-service corporate law firm, serves a broad range of businesses in various industry sectors. Client satisfaction is pivotal at OAALA. Her firm is one of the most sought-after contemporary lawyers in the continent of Africa. Passionate, engaging and focus driven, her peers revere her resolve to address challenging matters in a friendly and dialogue mode. Her brilliance, and keen eye for detail earns great recognition from her clients.

She is the pioneer African IP lawyer, accredited with the African organization of Intellectual & Industrial property (OAPI) with jurisdiction in 17 countries since 1994.

In 1998, curious and concerned about Africa`s significant dependence on foreign intellectual property assets and imports of goods and services into the continent, she founded; “The Foundation for the Promotion of Inventions, Innovations, and Artistic Designs” (FPI) to promote research and development for African discoveries, talents, traditional Knowledge and know-how for validation of discoveries for local use and exports to global markets.

Retained in 1998, to advise the Cameroon Association of Inventors and Innovators, she represented a medicinal cure for hepatitis, known under the trademark ''HEPASOR,” at d the International Exhibition Fair (INPEX) in 1999 in Pittsburgh, where FPI met with Dr. Nakammatz, the renown Japanese inventor of Viagra.

Then followed, the BBC Tomorrow’s World London Exhibition Fair in 1999, where FPI received an award from Mr. John Trevors, the renowned British inventor of the “Touch lamp” for her exhibitions.

From 2001 -2006, she accompanied one of Africa`s most revolutionary, controversial and nonconventional research initiatives in HIV /AIDS for therapeutic vaccines. This discovery, led by one of Africa`s most renown Professors, a Surgeon and international award price winner for research in the treatment of retrovirus for Burkitt’s Cancer, Sickle cell and HIV /AIDS. At a time when HIV/AIDs was ravaging lives in the Continent of Africa, she played a very compelling advocacy role at all fronts, while advising on the patentability, design and trademark ownership of the Vaccine process across the globe.

As Cofounder of the Cameroon National Committee of the International Chamber of Trade & Commerce (ICC Cameroon) in 2021, she stunned the continent, in 2006, with her nomination by the World Business Council, of The International Chamber of Trade & Commerce (ICC) Paris, as the pioneer, African, female country, court member, at the ICC International Court of Arbitration, since its creation in 2023. A mandate she held 4 years..

From 2004 -2014, as a member of the ICC Paris Intellectual property (IP) and the Arbitration commissions, she contributed with experts from governments, Civil society, multinationals, intra governmental organizations, institutions and businesses, through successive annual COP Conferences, to address policy reviews on the global climate change Agenda, that lead to the signing of, the Paris convention in 2015 on climate change.

Coupled with her legal practice, she founded & Chairs “The African Chamber of Trade & Commerce” (ACC), a non-profit and non-governmental, private sector chamber, aimed at using Public, Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a strategic tool to build sustainable and resilient infrastructures. The aim is to avoid duplication and stagnation for gainful entrepreneurial business practices.

Focal on the ACC agenda, is her advocacy for Tripartite Partnerships, that would engage expertise in, North/South, South/South and North/North business ventures. This should invariably contribute towards impactful and traceable development in local African communities. Through this initiative, she pledges to bring her expertise and knowledge into a project, she is deeply passionate about, and believes could shift paradigms in the  continent.. That is; “Institutional Advocacy for 'Africa's Socio-Economic Development."

Convinced of the need to promote IP asset ownership in Africa for improved wealth for entrepreneurial self-reliant opportunities, she believes validating African inventions and innovations, would pave the way for IP ownership and knowledge transfer for capital markets.

She has since 2018 created “The International Forum for cotton, textiles, accessories & Fashion (FICOTA) to address the African Cotton value chain and supply chains, as pivotal for talents to create wealth and job opportunities in Africa.

In prelude to the 4th edition of FICOTA, coming up in November 2026, in Cairo, Egypt, she will be Speaking at the ICAC 83rd plenary conference coming up in Tanzania in November 2025, on the role of National policies for African textiles.

Transforming Cotton into Textile and things in Africa is a vision, FICOTA promotes for optimization and industrialization of African cotton and Textiles. The game changer for. (www.africanchamber-abo.org) FICOTA is created to facilitate sustainability and optimization in the African cotton value and supply chains from “Seed to Fashion” or from “Farm to Market” through value addition. (www.ficota.org ) The focus is on adapting ecosystems for Africa`s industrialization in the textiles industry.

The plurality, multi-culturalism and multidimensionality of ACC, provides a structure with the unique capacity for institutions and stakeholders to create adaptive business models, based on sector needs of partners. The purpose is to facilitate harmonious growth with efficient ecosystems, to implement attainable goals, through value addition, in local value and supply chains.

Accolades and Publications:

2016, OAALAW won the “AI African Award of Excellence.

2018, Recognized amongst 100 of the finest professional Women in a book titled “Women Pioneer In Dispute Resolutions” by Arbitral Women.

2019 Published an article on IP Funding: A Key to Entrepreneurial Development Through IP Asset Ownership in Africa in the London based “Women's IP Magazine

2020/21, Profiled in the Magazine “Rising Women”.

2023, Appointed Member of the International Cotton Advisory Committee/Private Sector Advisory Committee (PSAC)

2023, she was nominated as Executive member of the African Private Sector Summit. (APSS)

2024 she organized the 3rd Edition of the International Forum for Cotton, Textiles, Accessories & Fashion (FICOTA) in the sea site Ocean city, of Kribi, Cameroon.

2025, she published an article on “The Mystery, Power, Purpose and Ownership of Talent & Knowledge” in the London based “Women's IP Magazine”

She was nominated and ranked as the No. 6 in the Policy and Advocacy category for the Top 100 Influential Women Leaders in IP Law.

She is a current member of several association International Trademark Association (INTA), American Bar Association, Arbitral Women, Association of OAPI IP Agents, (AMOAPI), Foundation for the Promotion of Inventors ,Innovators  (FPI), Maman Eucharist du Mont Febe (MEMO) African Private Summit (APPSS), Africa US international Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AfUSA)  ACC and other

She enjoys travelling, music, sports, praying, and supporting charities.

 

Besim Özek

Strategy & Business Development Director

Following his graduation from Tarsus American College and Cukurova University Mechanical Engineering, he has taken a large and vital business role in Logistics and Purchasing Departments for over 20 years.

He is now Strategy and Business Development  Director in BOSSA which is one of the largest Denim Producers is Turkey. He has been very involved in Sustainable Textile Production.

He had been active presenting the company in;

  • Turkish Exporters Assembly, ITHIB (Member of Board)
  • Turkish Cotton Textile Manufacturer ‘s Union (Member of Board)
  • Turkish National Cotton Council (Member of Board)
  • The Union of Chambers and Commodity, Turkish Textile Industry Assembly

Twitter Besim Ozek:      @besimozek

Linkedin Besim Ozek:    besim-ozek

SIDDHARTHA RAJAGOPAL, Executive Director – TEXPROCIL

Dr. Siddhartha Rajagopal is the Executive Director of the Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL). He holds a PhD in Management Studies and has nearly four decades of experience in international trade in textiles and clothing.

Over his career, he has worked across the entire textile value chain—from fibre to fashion—and has been part of several Government of India delegations and negotiating groups, including bilateral engagements with the USA, the European Union, and consultations at the WTO.

Dr. Rajagopal has played a key role in developing export promotion schemes, market development strategies, and organizing India’s participation in international textile exhibitions and trade delegations. He is currently involved in the implementation of the “Kasturi Cotton India” project in collaboration with the Cotton Corporation of India and the Ministry of Textiles.

Padmini Singla, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India

Padmini Singla is a career civil servant from India with over two decades of leadership roles in public administration. Currently serving as the Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Textiles, she spearheads the strategic development and policy framework for Natural Fibres, including Cotton.

An alumna of Delhi School of Economics, she holds an Executive Master’s from EPFL, Switzerland.