India and Mali host World Cotton Day event at UN Headquarters

The Permanent Missions of India and Mali to the United Nations jointly hosted an event at the UN Headquarters in New York to commemorate World Cotton Day. Under the theme ‘Cotton for Sustainability: Livelihoods, Value Addition and Partnership’, the gathering focused on strengthening cotton value chains, supporting smallholders, and improving market access through international cooperation.

Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, emphasized priorities such as producer livelihoods, sustainability, and the use of technology. He highlighted the importance of South-South and triangular cooperation to help cotton-producing nations retain more value. Ambassador Issa Konfourou of Mali noted the sector's vital role in Mali’s economy and rural livelihoods, while acknowledging the challenges of limited processing capacity and high input costs.

Representatives from India also discussed domestic initiatives, including the Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiative and the PM MITRA integrated textile park. The event included participation from representatives of Côte d’Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Chad, the FAO, and the International Cotton Advisory Committee.