There are several advantages to promoting cotton domestically, including the ability to influence the competitive landscape, knowledge of the specific culture, lower costs, understanding the buying and selling habits of the consumer, and understanding the retail supply chain. The IFCP promotes cotton indirectly by “promoting the promotion” of cotton to those who have an interest in doing so. Domestically focused demand enhancement programs will be key to increasing worldwide consumption of cotton in the future. Read this excerpt by Gao Fang, Secretary General of the China Cotton Association (CCA) as they introduce a new cotton logo, and a promotion program to support it. J.S.

Excerpted from: Playing a key role in the international cotton affairs. By Gao Fang, Secretary-general, China Cotton Association

Reproduced and excerpted with permission from Cotton Trading Relationships with China, a Special Feature published by Cotton Outlook (www.cotlook.com) in June 2009

CCA is to launch a promotion campaign for the “COTTON CHINA” logo. The campaign will have a number of objectives, namely to help the industry in these difficult financial times, echo the measures aimed at stimulating domestic demand and economic growth called for by the government, explore the market share of cotton textile products, promote the interests of cotton farmers, cotton merchants and cotton textile mills, and boost the healthy development of the cotton industry.

The logo of “COTTON CHINA”, which has been registered in the Administration of Industrial and Business Management, has the concept of “high quality, pure, environmentally friendly cotton”. The logo is the symbol of high quality of Chinese cotton as well as its products, and will be helpful for consumer recognition of the fibre. CCA would like to cooperate sincerely with international cotton organisations to pursue the common target — boost cotton consumption and promote the sustainability of the cotton industry.

Gao Fang graduated from the Business Economy Department, Beijing Industrial and Business University. Ms. Gao has been engaged in cotton affairs for over 20 years, in which time she has worked for the Cotton and Jute Bureau of the Ministry of Commerce, the Agriculture Service Department of the Domestic Trade Ministry and the Cotton And Jute Bureau of the China Co-op. She was elected as Secretary-General of the China Cotton Association in 2003 and has taken responsibility for the work of the CCA secretariat to date. Gao Fang was recently appointed to the post of Executive Vice President of the Association.