News
The Better Cotton Initiative and the Uzbek government agency have launched a fund to cover the costs of cotton certification
Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — The international organization Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) has entered into a strategic agreement with the newly created Light Industry Agency of Uzbekistan on financial support for cotton clusters introducing sustainable agricultural methods.
As part of the agreement, the agency will administer a new fund designed to offset the costs of certifying farms and supply chains to BCI standards. This will encourage compliance with sustainable production requirements and increase the participation of agricultural producers in the program.
According to Katerina Gorbunova, BCI program manager in Uzbekistan, the launch of the fund will be a key step in accelerating sustainable practices in the cotton industry.
“The cost of certification can be a barrier not only for Uzbek producers, but also for farms around the world, so financial support from the government and BCI is extremely important,” she noted.
The agreement updates the roadmap signed last year between the BCI, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Uztekstilprom Association of Textile and Apparel Industry, moving plans into action through program funding, institutional roles and government-level incentives.
Director of the Light Industry Agency of Uzbekistan Nozim Kholmuradov emphasized that cooperation with BCI is aimed at increasing the income of cotton-producing enterprises and increasing the number of companies that can successfully compete in the global textile market.
The collaboration was announced at BCI`s annual multi-sector meeting in Tashkent, where representatives of cotton producers, government authorities, civil society, international organizations and brands discussed industry challenges and opportunities, including social accountability and the implementation of regenerative practices.
The event was attended by ministers, BCI staff, representatives of the National Commission against Trafficking in Persons and Decent Work, the International Labor Organization, Cotton Campaign, FAO and Uztekstilprom.
Source
