Enhancing National Cotton Demand

The International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) is a non-governmental body composed of national and international cotton industry organizations. The mission of the IFCP is to encourage increased consumer demand for cotton through the implementation of national cotton demand enhancement programs. The Forum serves as a clearinghouse for information about proven techniques of cotton promotion, best practices in retail-level communication, and cost-effective measures of boosting consumer demand.

The IFCP was established in 2000 in recognition of the need for a proactive effort on behalf of the cotton industry to increase cotton's share of domestic fiber markets at the consumer level. From a fifty-percent share of world fiber mill use in the 1980's, cotton has fallen to a market share of just under 40% in 2004. The IFCP encourages domestic demand enhancement activities that, through increasing consumption locally, can have a global impact on the cotton economy.

Since its inception, the Forum has undertaken a number of initiatives in support of its mission, including research into international fiber labeling laws, updates on ongoing national promotional programs, and presentations to various forums to increase IFCP exposure. The IFCP currently includes seventeen member organizations from thirteen countries, with Dr. Sebahattin Gazanfer serving as Chair.

In July 2003 the IFCP, in cooperation with the ICAC, contracted Jeffrey Silberman as Executive Director with the aim of assisting the IFCP in encouraging national cotton demand enhancement programs. Activities of the Forum since that time include publishing the second edition of the World Cotton Promotion Activities booklet, 4 Volumes of the Cotton Promotion Bulletin website including a "how to" guide to executing promotional activities, features, news of interest, and participation in the 62nd ICAC Plenary meeting in Gdansk, and the 63rd ICAC Plenary meeting in Mumbai. The IFCP presented of a report on national fiber labeling laws, and a cotton demand enhancement workshop. The IFCP intends to intensify its support of member organizations with respect to developing and implementing promotion programs at a national level.

As the global cotton industry works to enhance consumer demand and increase cotton's market share in participating countries around the world, the IFCP will play a critical role. Through national demand enhancement programs, cotton industry organizations have the opportunity to increase consumption of cotton within their own markets and, in turn, positively affect the worldwide marketplace. The International Forum for Cotton Promotion is dedicated to providing a springboard from which such programs can evolve, to the benefit of all cotton-interested organizations and nations.