November 9, 2007, Washington, DC — Mr. Zbigniew Roskwitalski was elected Chairman of the International Forum for Cotton Promotion (IFCP) at the annual business meeting held in Izmir last month. Mr. Roskwitalski, Director of the Gdynia Cotton Association, is a founding member of the IFCP and has been active in bringing the importance of demand enhancement to the forefront of cotton business activities. Outgoing Chairman Mr. Mark Messura of Cotton Incorporated commented that he is "very pleased" with the organization's selection to lead the Forum, and following the week of activities, assumed the role of Past Chairman.
Also elected Vice Chairman of the IFCP was Mr. Nayan Mirani of SCIL Capital India Ltd., representing the Cotton Association of India. Mr. Jan Wellman, Executive Director of the Bremen Cotton Exchange was elected to the office of Treasurer. Jeffrey Silberman continues in his role as Executive Director, and the new officers assume their roles immediately.
The IFCP provides a forum for the exchange of cotton promotion techniques that can be replicated around the world. The organization encourages and facilitates domestically funded and domestically focused generic cotton promotion through its membership of 18 cotton organizations from 14 countries.
The IFCP meetings and demand enhancement activities were held concurrently with the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) 66th Plenary Meeting, October 22nd through October 26th, entitled Strategies for National Competitiveness.
According to the Executive Director of the ICAC, Terry Townsend, "several comments made to me during the meetings indicate that the IFCP concept of self-help may finally be reaching a critical mass of acceptance. Building demand enhancement programs through the entire supply chain can increase cotton consumption, and it is important to understand and influence the consumer at the retail level."
For additional information, contact Jeffrey P. Silberman at jeff@icac.org.