The Permanent Missions of India and Mali to the United Nations jointly organized an event titled "Cotton for Sustainability: Livelihoods, Value Addition and Partnership" at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 7 October 2026, commemorating World Cotton Day as proclaimed by UN General Assembly resolution 75/318. The event brought together Members of Parliament from India, representatives of Member States, and international organizations to discuss cotton's role in economic development, international trade, and poverty alleviation in developing and least developed countries.
Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, Permanent Representative of India to the UN, highlighted four key priorities: supporting producers' livelihoods, expanding value addition and market access, promoting sustainability, and strengthening technology and partnerships. He emphasized the need for affordable inputs and finance, support for smaller enterprises, and South-South and triangular cooperation to help cotton-producing countries retain more value and advance the Sustainable Development Goals.
Ambassador Issa Konfourou of Mali highlighted cotton's importance to Mali's economy and rural livelihoods while underscoring challenges including limited processing capacity, input costs, market access, and trade-distorting support. He outlined Mali's efforts to expand domestic processing and create employment, welcoming mutually beneficial partnerships and acknowledging India as a key partner.
Indian Parliament members provided regional perspectives: Asit Kumar Mal highlighted Kantha embroidery in Bolpur, West Bengal, demonstrating how traditional craftsmanship adds value to cotton, supports women's livelihoods, and promotes reuse and resource efficiency. L. K. Sudhish highlighted Tamil Nadu's experience in cotton knitwear and garment manufacturing, including the contribution of smaller enterprises, shared infrastructure, and skilled workers, referencing the integrated textile park under the PM MITRA initiative and wastewater recovery in textile processing.
Ms. Padmini Singla, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Textiles, outlined India's initiatives including the Mission for Cotton Productivity and the Kasturi Cotton Bharat initiative, emphasizing improved productivity, quality, and traceability. She highlighted investments in textile infrastructure, support for artisans and small enterprises, and the importance of open, predictable trade and market access for sustainable cotton value chains.
The event included participation from Permanent Representatives of Côte d'Ivoire, Uzbekistan, Chad, the Netherlands, Burkina Faso, Egypt, and Deputy Permanent Representatives of Cameroon and Peru, along with representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization and International Cotton Advisory Committee. Discussions focused on strengthening cotton value chains, supporting smallholders and artisans, improving processing capacity and market access, and encouraging technology use and international partnerships. The event concluded with a hands-on demonstration of Pen Kalamkari on cotton by a master artisan from India.