Pakistan to host ICAC meeting after six decades

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will host the 75th plenary meeting of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) after more than six decades, an official said on Friday.  

The meeting, titled, “Emerging Dynamics in Cotton: Enhancing Sustainability in Cotton Value Chain”, will be held between 30 October and 4 November.   Last time the country was honored to host the 13th plenary meeting in 1951. 

“Plenary meetings of the ICAC provide a forum for the discussion of international issues of importance to the world cotton industry, and provide opportunities for industry and government leaders from producing, consuming and trading countries to consult on matters of mutual concern,” Hassan Iqbal, secretary of ministry of textile industry told media.  

Iqbal said around 400 international/local delegates will be attending the meeting. Till now around 130 international delegates from 30 countries have been confirmed, he added.

Founded in 1939, Washington DC-based ICAC comprises of 30 cotton producing, consuming and trading countries. The ICAC provides statistics on world cotton production, consumption, trade and stocks and to identify emerging changes in the structure of the world cotton market. 

Cotton and textile value chain is the lifeline of the country’s economy, absorbing more than 40 percent of its industrial workforce and earning more than 60 percent of the foreign exchange for the country.  Iqbal said progressive growers, including a lady grower, will also be chairing a session. “This shows the competence of the growers in the field of cotton,” he said.