Largest Gathering of Textile Professionals

 

Bangladesh Cotton and Textile Convention 2006 was held at the Dhaka Sheraton Hotel, Dhaka, Bangladesh on April 23 through 24, 2007. The convention, themed Opportunities for Increased Trade in Cotton Textiles, was organized jointly by Cotton Bangladesh, a global cotton and textile magazine and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) in cooperation with Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers Association (BKMEA), Bangladesh Cotton Association (BCA) and Globecot, a US-based cotton marketing research and consulting firm. The objective of the program was to provide a dynamic forum that would bring fresh ideas and thoughts on how Bangladesh textile industry should cope with the increasing competition in the world textile market. Over 250 participants, including sixty delegates from 19 countries, participated in the conference. Ms. Geeteara Safiya Choudhury, Adviser (Minister), Ministry of Textile and Jute, Bangladesh, was the chief guest at the inauguration session of the convention.

 

Dr. Quamrul Ahsan, Editor-in-Chief, Cotton Bangladesh magazine and the convener of the convention gave a welcome speech on behalf of the organizing committee. Dr. Ahsan thanked the present interim government to provide a political stability in the country, which facilitated in organizing the convention. The convention was originally scheduled in December 2006 and had to be postponed due to political unrests. In his welcome speech, Dr. Ahsan urged the Bangladeshi entrepreneurs to engage with the international forums and association, which would help position themselves to face the challenges in the future to ensure a sustainable growth in the textile sector.

 

At the inaugural session, several other speakers delivered their speeches. Among them Dr. Terry Townsend, Executive Director of the Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), Mr. Nasriddin Najimov, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investments and Trade of  the Republic of Uzbekistan,  Ms. Francoise Collet, Delegation of the European Commission to Bangladesh Mr. Nurul Islam Shuja, President, Bangladesh Cotton Association  Mr. Mohd. A. Salam, First Vice President, Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers & Exporters Association   Dr. Bahauddin Mohammad Yousuf, Second Vice President, Bangladesh Knitwear Manufacturers & Exporters Association and Mr. Abdul Hai Sarker, President, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association.

 

The convention was divided into three parts: the inaugural session and two technical sessions. In the technical sessions, the presentations were made by experts from home and abroad. The presentations were Structural Changes in the World Cotton Market by Dr. Terry Townsend, Executive Director, ICAC; The Global Textile Industry: The Role of Quality Cotton in Today's and Tomorrow's Market by Robert  Antoshak, President, Globecot, Inc.; Uzbek Cotton- A Key Factor in the Development of Bangladesh's Textile Industry by Nasriddin Najimov,  First Deputy Minister, Republic of Uzbekistan; The ICA-Your Partner in the International Cotton Industry by Peter Wakefield, Past-President, ICA; Bangladesh’s Role in China’s Evolving Cotton and Textile Market by Jim Lambert, Globecot, Inc.; Growth in Textile & Clothing Industry in Bangladesh by A. Matin Chowdhury, Managing Director, Malek Spinning Mills; US Cotton Business by Manfred Schiefer, President, ACSA; Indian Cotton Quality and Characteristics by Sanjay K. Jain, TT Limited, New Delhi, India. Sessions were took place at the Ball Room of Dhaka Sheraton Hotel. The technical sessions were chaired by Mr. Anisul Islam Mahmud, Chairman and Manging Dirctor of Shasha Garments Ltd. and Shasha Denim Ltd and Mr. Abdul Hai Sarkar, President of the Bangladesh Textile Mills Association. Outlook for Global Cotton and Textile Industry was the theme of the first session and Coping with increasing Competition in Textile Markets and Investment Opportunities was the theme of the second session of the convention.

 

Dr. Terry Townsend, executive director of the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), in his presentation on Structural Changes in the World Cotton Market, gave a brief account of the world production and use of cotton, cotton area and prices, world cotton yields, biotech cotton, yield by country, cotton’s market share, world cotton mill use, world ending stocks, world imports and exports and direct government assistance of cotton.

 

Mr. Jim Lambert of Globecot made the presentation for Mr. Robert P. Antoshak, President of Globecot, who gave an overview of the Global Textile Industry. He pointed out that the worldwide textile industry is moving into a slow growth period and China and the Indian subcontinent have had an enormous impact on the global market of textiles. In order to expand the business, Asian textile industry needs high quality for cotton, this includes longer staple length, better color, lower contamination, improved inspection procedure, better delivery and transparent business interactions.

 

Mr. Bakhtiyor Ibragimov made the presentation for Mr. Nasiriddin Najimov, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Investment and Trade of the Republic of Uzbekistan. His talk was entitled Uzbek Cotton-A Key Factor in the Development of Bangladesh’s Textile Industry. He gave a short summary on Uzbekistan Cotton Industry, Uzbekistan Cotton Trading System and prospect of Uzbek Cotton in Bangladesh Textile Industry.

 

Mr. Peter Wakefield, the immediate past president of the International Cotton Association Ltd. has described the international rules and bylaws of the ICA in his presentation on The ICA-Your partner in the International Cotton Industry.

 

In the second technical session, the first presentation was made by Jim Lambert of Globecot. The title of his presentation was Bangladesh’s Role in China’s Evolving Cotton and Textile Market. He provided a complete account on China’s textile and cotton industry and its growing international influence in cotton and textile trades.

 

A. Matin Chowdhury, Managing Director of Malek Spinning Mills, in his presentation on Growth in Textile & Clothing Industry in Bangladesh described the opportunities for increased trade in cotton textiles in Bangladesh in the post MFA-era.

 

Manfred Schiefer, the President of American Cotton Shippers Association gave a talk on the U.S. Cotton Supply. He gave a detailed account on the U.S. cotton production, supply, trade and world cotton production.

 

In the last presentation of the technical session, Sanjay K. Jain, Managing Director of TT Limited gave a brief description of the Indian crop, varieties of Indian raw cotton, specification of various types, relevant issues pertaining to trade with Bangladesh and the present situation of Indian cotton market.

 

The presentations of different speakers in the convention highlighted many relevant issues for the future of the textile industries and cotton market of Bangladesh. It had hoped that this international forum would provide a strong voice to the textile industry to raise concerns and resolve issues partnering with international strategic partners.

 

An ice breaking reception party followed by a grand dinner was held at the evening. The dinner was sponsored by Wakefield Inspection Services and Inspection Services Limited. The dinner was followed by a fashion show by Bangladeshi performers demonstrating local and western fashion lines.

 

The event capped a busy second day for the organizing committee. The committee members, led by Dr. Quamrul Ahsan, Editor-in-Chief of Cotton Bangladesh magazine, included Dr. Terry Townsend, Executive Director, ICAC, Mr. Manfred Schiefer, President ACSA, Mr. Peter Wakefield, immediate past president ICA, Mr. Fred Hardin and Ms. Saira Farukh of Globecot and Mr. Sagar Lohani of Cotton Bangladesh. The committee met Ms. Geeteara Safiya Choudhury, Adviser (Minister) of Textile and Jute, Government of Bangladesh at her office in the morning. In the meeting, various national and international issues related to textile and cotton trading were discussed. Dr. Terry Townsend requested Ms. Choudhury to help facilitate Bangladesh’s membership to the ICAC. Dr. Townsend explained that Bangladesh’s membership with the ICAC would bring both tangible and intangible benefits. Tangible benefits include access to information and participation in international conferences where ideas and information are exchanged. Intangible benefits include participation in discussions of issues affecting the cotton sector of international significance. The world cotton industry is highly competitive and long term economic viability requires constant adjustment to changing conditions. He also explained that ICAC works with member governments to raise awareness of critical issues, provides information necessary to decision making, and facilitates cooperation among countries and the private sector on matters of shared concern. Ms. Choudhury appreciated the importance of Bangladesh’s membership to the ICAC. She promised the committee to make an effort to bring Bangladesh in to the ICAC membership pool.

 

Later in the afternoon a meeting was held with Mr. Abdul Hai Sarker, President, Bangladesh Textile Mills Association at the BTMA office. ICAC membership and International Cotton Association rules and bylaws were among the key issues discussed in the meeting. Mr. Sarker showed immense interests in getting involved in many international issues of importance to Bangladesh textile industries, including memberships to the ICAC and ICA.

 

Second day of the convention was different for general foreign participants. They visited two different factories and gathered experience about the Spinning and RMG production system and atmosphere of Bangladesh.

 

A farewell dinner by Cotton Bangladesh was held at the evening. The dinner was followed by a fellowship party sponsored by Cargill Cotton.