CmiA ioins WTO-FIFA cotton partnership

The Partnership for Cotton initiative, co-founded by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and FIFA, has welcomed Cotton made in Africa (CmiA) as a new member of its steering committee. The announcement was made during the committee's latest meeting in Cotonou, Benin, in early June.

CmiA, a standard under the Aid by Trade Foundation, collaborates with nearly one million small-scale farmers across eleven African countries. Tina Stridde, MD of the foundation, highlighted the importance of sustainable cotton production, emphasizing that this partnership will enhance Africa's cotton value chain.

Launched in February 2024 at the WTO's 13th Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi, the initiative aims to boost the cotton and textile sectors in West Africa, particularly in the "Cotton 4" countries—Mali, Chad, Burkina Faso, and Benin—alongside Côte d’Ivoire. The goal is to not only grow and export cotton but also to increase local processing and business activities. The committee’s recent meeting focused on progress updates and included a visit to a textile processing estate in Benin.