Better Cotton Explores Future Of Uzbekistan’s Cotton Sector
One year on since the launch of its programme in Uzbekistan, Better Cotton has co-hosted an event in its capital, Tashkent, to reflect on its successes and strengthen multi-stakeholder relations.
Held in collaboration with the National Commission of Combatting Human Trafficking and Forced Labour and the Uzbekistan Textile and Garment Industry Association, the organisation welcomed representatives from government, fashion retailers and brands, civil society NGOs, manufacturers, cotton producers, donors and knowledge partners.
The event, held on 12 December, marked the end of a year in which Better Cotton has licensed its first clusters of farms in the country and launched a Roadmap of Sustainability Developments to unite influential stakeholders and advance the cotton sector’s sustainability credentials.
Speakers included Ilkhom Khaydarov, Chairman of the Uzbekistan Textile and Garment Industry Association, Marco Mantovanelli, Country Manager for Uzbekistan at the World Bank and Joachim Fritz, Country Director for the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).
The event explored four key themes: Sustainable Economic Development & Market Access, Regenerative Agriculture; Decent Work and Gender Equality; and Better Cotton’s Principles & Criteria V.3.0.
An Innovation Marketplace – in which stakeholders presented the latest tools and sustainable practices in cotton production – was held to drive discussion around effective solutions.
