Egypt’s ministry of public business sector has allocated EGP 21 billion to increase the added value in the Egyptian cotton industry, as per the advice of international consultant Warner, which prepared a comprehensive study on developing the country’s cotton sector. The government is making efforts to restore the status of Egyptian cotton globally. During a review of latest efforts in promoting Egyptian cotton, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouli said there is a great interest in developing and supporting the textile sector as well as planting and selling the Egyptian cotton, Egypt’s state information service said. In March this year, the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) launched a multi-stakeholder pilot project in Egypt, to train cotton farmers on the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI)’s holistic approach to sustainable cotton production. The pilot project is a part of a renewed drive in the country to increase sustainability and improve conditions for Egyptian producers. Funded by the Italian Agency for Development Cooperation, the project is implemented by UNIDO in collaboration with the ministry of trade and industry, the ministry of agriculture and land reclamation as well as with local and international textile private sector stakeholders. Approximately 5,000 smallholder cotton farmers will be involved in the initial pilot project, receiving training on the Better Cotton principles and criteria.
Source – Fibre2Fahion.
