76th Plenary meeting

26 October, 2017 - 27 October, 2017 , Tashkent, Uzbekistan

76th Plenary Meeting

26 October 2017 – 27 October 2017 , Tashkent, Uzbekistan

Cotton in the Era of Globalization and Technological Progress
Final Statement: English, Arabic, French, Russian, Spanish
Proceedings
Agenda

Sunday, 22 October 2017

10:00/00:00 Registration (International Hotel Tashkent)
10:00 Meeting of the Task Force on the Commercial Standardization of Instrument Testing of Cotton (CSITC) (Samarkand room)
12:00 Meeting of the Expert Panel on Social, Environmental and Economic Performance of Cotton Production (SEEP) (Samarkand room)
14:00 Meeting of the Private Sector Advisory Panel (PSAP) (Samarkand room)
15:00 Meeting of the Executive Committee of the International Cotton Researchers Association (ICRA) (Samarkand room)
15:30 Tashkent City Tour

Monday, 23 October 2017
Order of the Day

08:00/00:00 Registration
(International Hotel Tashkent)
10:00 Inaugural Session
Summary
(Conducted in the Expo Center, adjacent to the International Hotel Tashkent)
12:00 Visit to the stands of International Uzbek Cotton and Textile Fair (optional)
Lunch (International Hotel Tashkent)
13:00 First Open Session: World Cotton Market Report
Summary

(Amir Temur Main Hall)

This session will explore developments in the world cotton market, as well as including an overview of the cotton sector in the host country, Uzbekistan. The Secretariat will make presentations on world cotton supply, mill use, trade, stocks and prices, as well as on the annual ICAC report on Government Support to the Cotton Sector.

Speakers:
14:30 Coffee/tea break
15:00 First Plenary Meeting: Statements from Members
Summary A
(Amir Temur Main Hall)
16:30 Coffee/tea break
17:00 First Plenary Meeting (cont.)
Summary B
Statements from Members, Non-members and International Organizations
(Amir Temur Main Hall)
19:00 Reception (dinner and cultural program)
Restaurant Navruz (departure by bus from the International Hotel Tashkent at 18:45)
(Business attire)

Tuesday, 24 October 2017
Order of the Day

09:00/00:00 Second Open Session: Exploiting Genetic Diversity, Genepools and Cotton Genomics: Where Are We and What to Expect?

Summary
(Amir Temur Main Hall)In this session, representatives from the scientific community will discuss the use of modern “omics’ tools, methods for identification of useful genetic variations in cotton germplasm and other aspects of the utilization of the genetic diversity of world cotton germplasm resources.

Speakers:
09:15 First Breakout Session: Technology for the Preparation and Planting of Cotton Seeds in Diverse Soil and Climatic Conditions

Summary
(Crystal Ballroom)The quality of sowing seeds largely determines the outcome of the forthcoming cotton crop and the quality of cotton fiber. Aspects related to the development of automated, high-performance equipment complexes for improving the technology of sowing seeds will be considered during the session. Specialists will examine methods and drugs for dressing and encapsulating cotton seeds, as well as means of field preparation, precision sowing, applied to diverse soil and climatic conditions.

Speakers:
10:30 Coffee/tea break
11:00 Third Open Session: Trends in the Textile Industry and Inter-fiber Competition

Summary
(Tamir Amur Main Hall)This session will explore ways to stimulate the internal processing of cotton fiber in cotton-producing countries, so as to obtain greater added value and improve the efficiency of the cotton sector. Particular attention will be paid to the experience of Uzbekistan, which is increasing the internal processing of cotton and the production of finished high-quality textile products. In addition, this session will examine aspects related to the competition faced by cotton from other, especially man-made, fibers.

Speakers:
11:15 Second Breakout Session: New Technologies and Other Measures for Increasing Cotton Yields
Summary

(Crystal Ballroom)

This session will discuss novel technologies to boost potential yield, using both traditionally accepted agrotechnologies and emerging new biotechnologies. Increases in cotton yields by providing resistance to pests and disease using traditional and modern pest management technologies in the era of global climate change and technological advances will be highlighted.

Speakers:
12:30 Lunch
13:45 Fourth Open Session: Textile Innovations: Nanotechnologies for Current and Future Fabrics

Summary
(Amir Temur Main Hall)Scientific and technological progress enables the production of a wide range of original textile materials with innovative properties. Innovations in the textile industry and the original solutions of fashion designers are very much in demand. This session will consider examples of the application of nanomaterials and nanotechnologies in the industry market, as well as forecasts for their development.

Speakers:
14:45 Coffee/tea break
15:30/18:00 Visit to the Cotton and Textile Fair (optional)
Fashion show. Participation in the ceremony of contract signing
16:00 Fifth Open Session (World Café): Promotion of Cotton
Summary
(Crystal Ballroom)Participants will brainstorm strategies to promote the use of cotton

(All participants, including official delegates and observers, will break up into groups at round tables around the conference hall. Groups will be organized according to languages. There will be trained facilitators at each table.)

Moderator: Mr. Mark Messura, Executive Vice President, Global Product Supply Chain, Cotton Incorporated, USA
17:00 Coffee/tea break
17:15 Fifth Open Session (World Café): Results and Discussion
(Crystal Ballroom)A facilitator will lead a discussion of common results from the group discussions.

(Participants will remain at round tables; floor microphones will be available for each table)

Moderator: Mr. Mark Messura, Executive Vice President, Global Product Supply Chain, Cotton Incorporated, USA
19:00
Dinner-reception on behalf of inspection companies operating in the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan
Hall «Atrium-2» of JSC NEC «Uzexpocentre»
(Business attire)

Wednesday, 25 October 2017
Order of the Day

09:00/00:00 Sixth Open Session – Technical Seminar: Opportunities and Challenges for Technology Transfer in Cotton

Summary
(Amir Temur Main Hall)Cotton research has progressed at a much faster pace than the methods used to transfer new technologies to growers. The technology packages recommended for adoption are no longer limited exclusively to material issues, such as newer varieties, fertilizer use and so on. Newer methods of mass communication must be developed and tested, so as to reach as many growers as possible. Technology transfer, as such, has suffered from lack of innovation. Growers have to be motivated to actively seek new technologies. The philosophy underlying technology transfer also needs to be changed. Messages must be cost-effective and the focus must shift to the resultant interactions among materials before a new materials-based technology can be developed and commercialized. The new economic and scientific context requires a more innovative and complex model for transferring technology. The development of electronic media, both for access to online information and for personal outreach via mobile phones, is revealing new challenges and opportunities. Instead of describing current methods of technology transfer, the seminar will focus on new options and methods to effectively disseminate production technology to large and small growers.

Speakers:
10:30 Coffee/tea break
11:00 Sixth Open Session – Technical Seminar: Opportunities and Challenges in Technology Transfer in Cotton (cont.)
(Amir Temur Main Hall)Speakers:
12:30 Lunch
12:30 Business Lunch of the International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) (by invitation only)
13:45 Seventh Open Session: Impacts on Quality and Volume of Long-Term Storage of Cotton Products

Summary
(Amir Temur Main Hall)Despite reductions in the last two seasons, world stocks of cotton fiber remain at high levels. The volume of fiber stored in warehouses for extended lengths of time is increasing. In this connection, it is interesting to discuss the effects of time and methods of warehousing on changes in the quantity and quality of fiber during long-term storage, including issues related to the moisture content of cotton fiber, recommended parameters of packaging materials, warehouse characteristics, permissible variations in the quality of fiber and bale weight.

Speakers:
15:00/18:00 – Tashkent City Tour
– Concert (Smart casual attire)

Thursday, 26 October 2017
Order of the Day

07:30 Breakfast meeting for past host country and future host country
(by invitation only)
09:00/00:00 Eighth Open Session: Modern Cotton Ginning Technology

Summary
(Amir Temur Main Hall)The high level of competition on the world cotton market and the emergence of modern, technologically advanced and high-speed textile machinery, as well as the need for high quality and competitive textile products lead to tightening of requirements for the quality of cotton fiber. Ginneries must ensure compliance with the norms and rules of the technological process to preserve the natural quality of cotton products, minimize fiber loss and obtain high-quality cotton products. The objective of this session is to discuss and showcase the best ginning practices in order to enhance efficiency, preserve quality and increase cotton fiber output.

Speakers:
09:00 Third Breakout Session: Standardization, Quality Assessment, Traceability and Certification

Summary
(Crystal Ballroom)The cotton industry is constantly seeking to develop and standardize new methods for cotton fiber testing, as well as implementing programs for the harmonization of international requirements and test procedures. At the same time, there is increasing interest in certifying the traceability of cotton, in order to ensure supply chain integrity, protect brand quality and ensure accountability. Traceability includes a variety of aspects including technological and administrative solutions. This session will discuss new methods of testing, new devices, traceability procedures and standards.

Speakers:
10:30 Coffee/tea break
11:00 Ninth Open Session: Effects of GMO and Non-GMO Cotton Production
Summary
(Amir Temur Main Hall)This session will examine issues related GMO and non-GMO cotton production, including the maintenance of non-GMO cotton production as an option and the use of “GMO-Free” seals/labels.

Speakers:
11:00 Fourth Breakout Session: Economic Aspects of the Issues of Harvesting and Procurement of Raw Cotton and Settlements with Producers

Summary
(Crystal Ballroom)In a number of cotton countries, including Uzbekistan, raw cotton is bought from farmers by cotton ginneries. In this aspect, it is interesting to discuss the experience of other countries in the organization of raw cotton procurement systems, evaluation of its quality characteristics and performing mutual settlements for seed cotton between farmers and ginneries. During the session it is planned to discuss the economic aspects of interaction between producers and processors of seed cotton in order to stimulate all participants to produce more high quality cotton fiber.

Speakers:
12:30 Lunch
13:45 Meeting of the Drafting Group (Members only)
14:00 Fifth Breakout Session: Cotton Products and Research Trends

Summary
(Crystal Ballroom)The accelerated development of the cotton industry and the achievement of high production results are largely based on the use of scientific and technical potential. This session will examine current trends of research in the field of production and processing of cotton products, including priorities for fundamental and applied research in techniques and technology of cotton production and processing, implementation and commercialization of innovative scientific products, and the possibility of combining the potential and coordination of countries’ efforts for development in these areas.

Speakers:
15:30 Coffee/tea break
16:00 Meeting of the Drafting Group (Members only) (cont.)
16:00 Sixth Breakout Session: Recent developments in logistics and insurance systems

Summary
(Crystal Ballroom)The session will discuss issues related to the safe, timely and affordable delivery of shipments to buyers, such as modern methods of transportation of raw cotton and cotton fiber, aspects of warehousing and storage of cotton, phytosanitary requirements and fumigation issues, advanced methods of organizing loading and unloading operations, optimization of document clearance by use of electronic data interchange, projects of new transportation routes and new forms of insurance.

Speakers:
19:00 Gala dinner. Reception hosted by the Government of the Republic of Uzbekistan (dinner and cultural program)
(Business attire)

Friday, 27 October 2017
Order of the Day

09:00/00:00 Meeting of the Steering Committee (Members only)
Chair: Ms. Claudia Fontana Tobiassen, Chair ad interim Standing Committee
Summary

  • Working papers
  • Discussion
10:30 Coffee/tea break
11:00 Closing Plenary Session
Summary

  • Reading of the Final Statement of 76th Plenary Meeting
  • Invitation from the host of the 77th Plenary Meeting
  • Closing Comments by Other Countries
  • Closing Comments by the Chair on behalf of Uzbekistan
12:30 Lunch
15:00 Press conference and briefing for journalists
 Technical tour/travel

Saturday and Sunday (28 and 29 October 2017)

Technical Tour/Tourism

Sunday, 29 October 2017

Returning to Tashkent by approximately 19:00 hrs.

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.