BAKU, Azerbaijan, Aug. 6
By Ilkin Seyfaddini - Trend:
Uzbekistan is beginning a joint project with international organizations to develop socially responsible and environmentally sustainable cotton production, Trend reports citing the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade of Uzbekistan.
The project details were discussed during a meeting held by Advisory Council of the International Finance Corporation (IFC) via videoconference on August 4, 2020.
The event was attended by representatives of the World Bank Group, German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Better Cotton Initiative (BCI), Responsible Sourcing Network (RSN), non-governmental organizations, members of the Cotton Campaign coalition and foreign textile companies.
The Uzbek side was represented by the leadership of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Water Resources, Ministry of Employment and Labor Relations, Textile and Garment Industry Association (Uztextileprom) as well as heads of cotton and textile clusters.
"The Cotton Campaign members presented the results of independent monitoring of the 2019 raw cotton harvest and the draft Responsible Sourcing Agreement. The signing of this Agreement will facilitate the introduction of best practices in corporate governance in the cotton processing industry, fulfillment of requirements in the area of responsible procurement and comprehensive inspection by international brands, as well as the establishment of a mechanism whereby Uzbek cotton and textile clusters will be assessed by RSA Eligibility Scorecard System," the message said.
In turn, the Uzbek side presented information on the results of measures taken by the government to ensure transparency in the cotton processing sector, as well as to increase automation and mechanization of cotton production processes and to continue cooperation in these areas with international organizations, including the IFC, the International Labour Organization and the Cotton Campaign coalition.
Following the meeting, an agreement has been reached on boosting the joint elaboration of draft Agreement on Responsible Sources of Supplies, which will enable cotton and textile clusters in Uzbekistan to establish direct cooperation with the world's largest brands in the near future.
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