ISLAMABAD: The C-4 countries need Pakistan’s assistance for value addition in cotton as well as technical assistance in the fields of agriculture, power and renewable energy, said Eloi Laourou, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Benin to the United Nations Offices in Geneva, Switzerland on Monday.

Mr Laourou was leading a delegation of Cotton Four (C4) countries – Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad and Mali – in a meeting with top officials of the Commerce Division. The Pakistani side was led by Additional Secretary Commerce (Trade Diplomacy), Javed Akbar Bhatti.

We are concerned about yield improvement and better cotton seeds and we want to take advantage of the Pakistani expertise, Mr Laourou stressed.

On the occasion, Mr Bhatti informed the delegation that Pakistan’s cotton production is estimated to reach 14.37 million bales in 2018-19 – from 11.98m bales in the current fiscal year – owing to measures introduced in the last couple of years to enhance crop yield.

“Pakistan is one of the few countries which offer a complete value chain — from cotton production to fashion garments,” he added. He further said that Pakistan recognises the role of C-4 in raising the profile of cotton at the World Trade Organisation.

“This technical assistance to C-4 countries fits well within Pakistan’s strategy in reaching out to African countries furthermore the resources allocated in this regard will deepen our engagements with African region,” he added.

The delegation was briefed about the ‘Look Africa Initiative’ which aims to strengthen bilateral trade and investment relations with the African region.

C-4 Cotton Initiative: The C-4 countries are instrumental in establishing a ‘cotton initiative’ within the framework of the WTO during the Cancun Ministerial Conference in 2003.

The C-4 countries are lobbying against cotton subsidies that are adversely affecting their cotton prospects and international prices of cotton.

Published in Dawn, April 24th, 2018