FICOTA 2021

About FICOTA

The International Forum for Cotton, Textiles and Accessories (FICOTA) seeks to validate the African cotton value chain through products and services particularly in the CEMAC region. There is no need to underline the potential of the cotton industry as a dynamic tool for industrial growth, as experienced in other economies, like China, India, and America etc. World cotton production is estimated at 25.2 million tons in 2018, with an upward trend in in subsequent years. African production accounts for 10 per cent of the quantities cited. Thus, Africa’s potential in cotton growing and the variations it produces in quantity and quality is the raison d`être of FICOTA to address African cotton issues, particularly in the CEMAC region. Into its 2nd Edition, the 1st Edition of FICOTA took place in December 2018 in the Cameroon seaside city of Kribi, under the joint patronage of the Ministry of Mines, Industry & Technology and the Ministry of Trade in Cameroon. Organized by The African Chamber of Trade & Commerce (ACC) in partnership with the Organization Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF) the objective is to examine the cotton value chain by looking at ways and means to create wealth and employment through increased production and transformation of cotton by-products and services through lucrative partnerships with locals businesses. The idea is to increase the % in quantities transformed locally. OIF bought into the FICOTA concept. It became one of her useful platforms to validate the OIF DEDICOT program (Densification and Diversification of the Cotton-Textile-Clothing Industries in the French-speaking area). A program created to accompany actors in the cotton value chain through the North /North/ North /South /South SOUTH tripartite initiative, from cotton into textile, garments and accessories. Implementation of FICOTA 2018 resolutions commenced at the 2nd edition of the ACC Economic Day (AED) that held on December 5th 2019, at the Hilton Hotel in Yaoundé. In a highly recognized multiple partnership effort with MINADER, MINPMESSA, MINPROF and MINREX, OIF, EU, CAON, ECA and OAPI presided by His Excellency, Minister Achille BASSELIKIN III, AED addressed the theme of “useful tools and mechanisms for improved entrepreneurial activities in the CEMAC region. ECA examined the CFTA Cameroon road- map as an important tool for improved competitiveness and access to emerging markets within the African continent and beyond, if taken into consideration 

General Obective 

The vision of ACC is to promote entrepreneurial activities through interactive event platforms. Namely; AED, FICOTA, KBFweek, ACC Awards and ACC Charities. The target is to facilitate economic growth using experience sharing, mentoring; training, exhibition and B2B networking activities through SME sector oriented connect platforms. In this regard, ACC believes that building adapted ecosystems to boost production and transformation capacities remains unequivocal for vibrant continental markets.