<p>India and Mali have called for stronger international cooperation to build sustainable cotton value chains, improve producer livelihoods and expand opportunities for value-added textile production. The discussions took place during a joint event at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, bringing attention to cotton’s contribution to economic development, international trade and poverty reduction.</p><p>The event was organised by the Permanent Missions of India and Mali under the theme “Cotton for Sustainability: Livelihoods, Value Addition and Partnership.” It brought together representatives of governments, international organisations and industry-related institutions to discuss how cotton-producing countries can strengthen their position in global markets.</p><p>India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Harish Parvathaneni, highlighted the importance of supporting cotton producers, improving access to markets, promoting sustainable production and strengthening technological cooperation. He also emphasised the need for affordable inputs and finance, particularly for smaller businesses and producers.</p><p>Mali’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Issa Konfourou, underlined cotton’s importance to his country’s economy and rural livelihoods. He pointed to challenges such as limited domestic processing capacity, production input costs and restricted market access, while highlighting the potential for partnerships to expand local processing and employment.</p><p>The discussions also examined how traditional craftsmanship can increase the value generated from cotton. Indian examples included Kantha embroidery in West Bengal, which demonstrates how textile traditions can support artisan livelihoods, encourage material reuse and create products with greater value than unprocessed fibre alone.</p><p>Tamil Nadu’s cotton knitwear and garment manufacturing sector was highlighted as another example of value addition. The sector combines skilled workers, smaller enterprises and shared infrastructure. The discussions also referenced textile infrastructure development under the PM MITRA initiative and efforts to recover and reuse wastewater in textile processing.</p><p>India’s Ministry of Textiles highlighted the country’s position as a major cotton producer and consumer, as well as the importance of cotton to small and marginal farmers. Initiatives such as the Mission for Cotton Productivity and Kasturi Cotton Bharat were discussed in connection with improving productivity, quality and traceability across the cotton value chain.</p><p>The event concluded with a focus on stronger international partnerships, improved processing capabilities, wider market access and greater use of technology. For India and Mali, these priorities could support rural employment, textile manufacturing and trade opportunities. However, the discussions themselves did not establish new trade agreements or specific investment commitments; their impact will depend on the partnerships and measures developed afterwards.</p>