4th
Edition
4
Days
6
Tracks
B2B
Trade Meeting
30+
Countries
800yr
Historic venue
About the conference
The Egyptian Cotton Research Institute (CRI) and the African Chamber of Trade & Commerce (ACC) host the 4th edition of FICOTA — the first ever held in the MENA region. Cairo, one of Africa's most storied cotton-producing cities, provides the perfect backdrop for this landmark gathering.From seed science and sustainable farming to AI-driven machinery, ethical fashion, and carbon markets — FICOTA 2026 covers the full value chain and welcomes everyone in the industry.
Looking back
FICOTA 2024 - 3rd Edition
The 3rd edition of FICOTA took place 9–12 July 2024 at Ngoye Beach, Kribi, Cameroon under the theme: "White Gold Revolution: Reshaping Africa Through Sustainable Cotton and Textiles." Organized under the patronage of the Government of Cameroon, Kribi Urban Council, and ICAC, it gathered national and international experts, investors, artisans, cotton farmers and professionals from across the value chain.
Keynote — Eric Trachtenberg, ICAC
Executive Director of the International Cotton Advisory Committee delivered the keynote address on the future of global cotton markets.
30+ Countries represented
Delegates from across Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Americas gathered under one roof to shape the future of cotton.
AFP Designer Competition & Gala Night
Spectacular catwalk showcasing African cotton in garments and accessories — celebrating employment and wealth creation through design.
Women in Cotton Finance Roundtable
Pioneering roundtable on sustainable banking and finance access for women across the cotton & textiles value chain.
2024 Speakers included
Mary Concilia Anchang
Founder & Chairperson, ACC
Jean-Roland Onana Nkoa
UNESCO Regional Office, Central Africa
Bintou S. Diallo
Cultural Industries Expert, AfDB
Keshav Kranthi
Chief Scientist, ICAC
Dr. Guntram Kruger
Senior Researcher, Textechno Germany
Conference Venue
An unforgettable setting
FICOTA 2026 takes place inside one of the ancient wonders of Cairo — where 800 years of history meet the future of global textiles.
Citadel of Saladin
A medieval fortress perched above Cairo, offering dramatic open-air courtyards, grand halls, and 360° views of the city skyline — the most extraordinary conference backdrop on the continent.
Historic landmark
800+ year-old fortress, iconic skyline views, medieval stone architecture
Open-air catwalk
Evening fashion show against the Citadel walls at golden hour
5 dedicated zones
Exhibition halls, innovation pavilion, B2B courts, conference chambers
01
Grand Exhibition Hall
Product booths, eco-fabric gallery, textile displays
02
Innovation Pavilion
AI demos, smart textiles, startup showcases
03
Citadel Catwalk
Open-air runway, gala night, AFP designers competition
04
B2B Trade Court
Private meetings, networking, investor & B2G talks
05
Conference Chambers
Plenary sessions, scientific papers, workshops
Conference Tracks
Six tracks. Something for everyone.
Click any track to see the full roundtable structure with moderator, panelists, and participants.
Moderator
TBC — Senior Agronomist
Egyptian Cotton Research Institute / ICAC
Panelists
TBC — Cotton Breeding Expert
International Research Institute · Africa
TBC — Irrigation Technology Expert
MENA Water Management Authority
Participants
Cotton farmers' associations associations
Representatives from Egypt, Ethiopia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Cameroon
Track 01
R&D
Cotton Production & Research
-
Cotton breeding, biotechnology & seed science
-
Soil health, fertility & crop rotation
-
Water-efficient irrigation techniques
-
Pest management & biodiversity strategies
-
Enhancing farmer livelihoods & recycling
For:
Researchers · Agronomists · Farmers
Moderator
TBC — AI in Manufacturing Expert
Machinery Engineering Faculty · Egypt
Panelists
TBC — Textile Automation Specialist
European Textile Machinery Association
TBC — Nanotechnology Researcher
Smart Textiles Lab · South Africa
Participants
Factory owners & machine buyers
Manufacturers across Africa & MENA interested in upgrading
Track 03
Technology
Textile Machinery, AI & Innovation
-
Automation in textile & yarn production
-
AI & mechatronics in smart textiles
-
Nanotechnology applications in fabrics
-
3D scanning systems in textile design
-
Industry 4.0 in African manufacturing
For:
Engineers · Tech companies · Manufacturers
Moderator
TBC — Fashion Industry Expert
African Fashion Project (AFP)
Panelists
TBC — International Sustainable Designer
Sustainable collections · Europe / Africa
TBC — Afro-MENA Heritage Designer
Cultural textile traditions · Egypt / Cameroon
Participants
Fashion students, brands & buyers
Emerging designers, retail brands, textile buyers from global markets
Track 05
Fashion
Fashion, Design & Culture
-
Global fashion trends & sustainability
-
International & regional designer showcases
-
Afro-MENA folklore fashion parades
-
AFP Designers competition — Gala Night
-
Ethical fashion & responsible sourcing
For:
Designers · Brands · Fashion students
Moderator
TBC — ESG & Carbon Markets Expert
African Carbon Exchange Initiative
Panelists
TBC — Clean Technology Specialist
EU Textile Sustainability Initiative
TBC — Supply Chain Lead
Bizpando / Global Compliance Platform
Participants
Textile manufacturers & exporters
Industry leaders seeking ESG certification & carbon credits
Track 02
Sustainability
Sustainability & Environment
-
Sustainable cotton production practices
-
Eco-friendly dyeing & finishing processes
-
Clean tech & carbon footprint reduction
-
Supply chain transparency & efficiency
-
Carbon credits & African carbon markets
-
Training, certification & ESG compliance
For:
Researchers · Agronomists · Farmers
Moderator
TBC — Cotton Market Economist
ICAC Statistical Division
Panelists
TBC — Logistics & Infrastructure Expert
African Trade Logistics Network
TBC — Trade Policy Specialist
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Participants
Cotton traders, brokers & exporters
Private sector representatives from Afro-MENA supply chains
Track 04
Trade
Cotton Trade & Supply Chain
-
Cotton market statistics & price volatility
-
Infrastructure & logistics in cotton trade
-
International trade agreements & policies
-
B2B meetings & investment opportunities
-
Enhancing global market competitiveness
For:
Traders · Investors · Government officials
Moderator
TBC — Women in Finance Champion
African Development Bank / Gender Division
Panelists
TBC — Sustainable Finance Expert
Impact Investment Fund · East Africa
TBC — Women Cotton Entrepreneur
Soil Sisters Network · West Africa
TBC — Gender & Trade Law Specialist
OAALaw — Onambele-Anchang
Participants
Women-led cotton & textile enterprises
Farmers, manufacturers, designers and traders from across Africa & MENA
Financial institutions & banks
Microfinance, impact investors providing solutions for women
Track 06
Women & Finance
Women in Cotton & Sustainable Finance
-
Access to sustainable banking & finance
-
Women's empowerment & leadership
-
Equal opportunities in the value chain
-
Skills development & capacity building
-
Roundtable: Women from seed to fashion
For:
Women leaders · Development partners · Banks
KEYNOTE SPEAKER FOR THE 3rd EDITION
Eric Trachtenberg
Executive Director of International Cotton Advisory Committee
FICOTA 2024 SPEAKERS
Mary Concilia Anchang
Founder and Chairperson for The African Chamber of Trade and Commerce
Jean-Roland Onana Nkoa
National Professional Officer for Culture at the UNESCO Regional Office for Central Africa
Bintou S. Diallo
Cultural and Creative Industries Expert - African Development Bank Group
Keshav Kranthi
Chief Scientist at the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC),
Dr. Guntram Kruger
Senior Researcher Textiles and Quality Control for Textechno Germany
Abdoul Aziz Yanogo
West Africa Regional Manager
Better Cotton
Axel Angeli
Digital Transformation Evangelist
Jane Okebugwu
Director of Operations for The African Chamber of Trade and Commision
Njeri Kimotho
Global Inclusion, Policy and Sustainable Fashion & Style Expert
Muktar Dodo
Representative in Africa at the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
Dr. Lucy Surhyel Newman
Chief Executive Officer of
Africa Private Sector Summit
Abeer S. Arafa
Deputy Director of Cotton Research Institute Egypt
Valeria Mangani
President of Sustainable Fashion Innovation Society
Kanwar Muhammad Usman
Head of Textiles at the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC)
Jasper Bhaumick
CEO UMa Soft GmbH and Bizpando AG
Kalayu Gebru
Project Manager at Solidaridad
Alexis Rai Gaynor
Director of Strategy and Partnerships for The African Chamber of Trade and Commerce
Queen Ahneva Ahneva
Cultural Curator
Founder of the New African Textile Museum
WHITE GOLD REVOLUTION:
RESHAPING AFRICA THROUGH SUSTAINABLE COTTON AND TEXTILES
FICOTA (International Forum for Cotton, Textiles and Accessories) is an African initiative aimed at improving the infrastructure and performance of the cotton value chain, textile and accessories. It also addresses concepts to include processing for better productivity in quality and quantity of goods and services. This an event organized by The African Chamber of Trade & Commerce (ACC), an African private sector initiative.
This event offers a friendly atmosphere for interaction, networking, exhibitions, meetings, debates, B2B meetings, and discussions between policy makers, development partners, companies, individuals, experts, senior executives, participants, and exhibitors from the cotton textile industry in Cameroon, Africa and around the world.
The forum is also an opportunity to highlight and make more visible the African cotton-textile economic sector for improvement and innovation at the heart of the stakes of the African economy (in the CEMAC zone in particular) with institutional partners and recognized companies. The CCA is convinced that the production and processing of local products and resources will promote the stable and sustainable economic growth of African States.
OBJECTIVES
To highlight the skills and know-how of local producers in the cotton/textile sector
1
To enable stakeholders to join forces and acquire new markets
2
To promote the creation and establishment of an ecosystem favorable to transformation in Kribi industrial, CEMAC Zone, and the continent at large.
3
WHO FICOTA IS FOR
FICOTA works with multilateral collaborators and partners to accomplish the goal of making economic progress through the supply chain enhancement and development within the cotton textile industry. We engage private, public, and non-profit sectors in addition to governmental agencies.
Producers & processors of the cotton-textile sector
Suppliers of fertilizers, insecticides and industrial equipment
Trainers and mentors of the sector and related trades
Government institutions
Bankers, financiers and insurers
Entrepreneurs & business leaders in the fashion and agriculture industries
Corporations and institutions that focus on agriculture and fashion
Development partners
Donors and other international financing institutions
Citizens of the cotton producing cities