Fashion
Bharat CotNet 2026 paves way for sustainable cotton ecosystem in India
The conference, organised in partnership with TEXPROCIL (The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council) and Kasturi Cotton, and supported by the Indian Textiles Ministry, the Rajasthan government and Cotton Corporation of India, witnessed the launch of two signature initiatives aimed at boosting premium cotton production with a special focus on ELS varieties. The two new initiatives are Kasturi Cotton Villages and Kasturi Cotton Mitras.
CITI and CITI-CDRA hosted Bharat CotNet 2026 in Bhilwara to strengthen India’s cotton ecosystem through collaboration across the value chain.
Two initiatives were launched to boost premium and ELS cotton production with traceability and scientific agronomy.
Leaders stressed that farmer prosperity is key to building a resilient, globally competitive textile sector.
Across the various sessions, speakers, including Rajasthan Chief Secretary V Srinivas and Joint Secretary (Fibre) in the Indian Ministry of Textiles Padmini Singla, highlighted that when the cotton value chain thrives sustainably, farmers prosper, manufacturers scale responsibly, exporters grow stronger, and India gains more strength in the global textiles and apparel arena.
In keeping with this thought, under the Kasturi Cotton Villages programme, select cotton-growing hubs will be ‘adopted’ as model villages. These sites will serve as benchmarks for the Kasturi Cotton Bharat (India’s premium cotton brand) standard, focusing on certified seed adoption, best agronomic and harvesting practices, and complete traceability. The goal is to establish 3–5 model villages per district across India’s cotton belt.
As part of the Kasturi Cotton Mitras initiative, trained field facilitators will be deployed to provide real-time, science-based handholding support to farmers for soil regeneration (using biochar), water management, and judicious fertiliser use, ensuring every harvest meets world-class specifications.
Addressing the conference, Ashwin Chandran, Chairman of CITI and CITI-CDRA, said that the strength of India’s textile industry depends upon the prosperity of the farmer. “When the farmer gains confidence and stability, the entire value chain becomes stronger,” he remarked.
“By identifying villages and empowering trained Mitras, we are creating a system where scientific agronomy, clean picking and contamination-free handling become part of daily farming practices. This will convert Kasturi Cotton from a certification concept into a living ecosystem,” Chandran pointed out.
CITI Deputy Chairman Dinesh Nolkha said the partnership between government institutions and organisations like the CITI-CDRA will be critical to ensuring that the benefits of the Kasturi Cotton Villages and Kasturi Cotton Mitras initiatives reach every cotton-growing village.
“Rajasthan, with its integrated cotton-to-textile ecosystem, offers an ideal starting point. I am confident that the experience gained here will pave the way for replication across other cotton-growing states and further strengthen India’s position in global textile markets,” Nolkha stated.
Rajasthan Chief Secretary V Srinivas said there was an urgent need to improve the productivity of India’s cotton sector. The Rajasthan government would offer its full support to the Kasturi Cotton Villages and Kasturi Cotton Mitras programmes.
Sangam (India) Vice Chairman Dr. SN Modani and TEXPROCIL Executive Director Dr. Siddhartha Rajagopal also underlined the important role that the Kasturi Cotton Villages and Kasturi Cotton Mitras could play in strengthening India’s cotton ecosystem.
In her introductory remarks, CITI Secretary General Chandrima Chatterjee said the Kasturi Cotton Villages and Kasturi Cotton Mitras were steps towards ensuring that quality begins at the farm itself.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)
The two sides will expand trade and investment, collaborate in renewable energy and promote industrial development under the framework. The anticipated investments would cover manufacturing, construction and logistics.
Egypt and Kenya have began implementing a strategic and comprehensive partnership to deepen economic, energy and political ties.
Both sides will expand trade and investment, collaborate in renewable energy and promote industrial development.
Investments would cover manufacturing, construction and logistics.
Egypt is also keen to channel part of its $14-billion African investment portfolio to Kenya.
The decision followed high-level consultations between Kenya’s prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.
The agreements were reached earlier by President William Ruto and his Egyptian counterpart Abdel Fattah el-Sisi.
To close the existing trade gap, both sides are fast-tracking the Kenya-Egypt Joint Business Council, focusing on streamlining customs procedures, addressing non-tariff barriers and expanding private sector engagement across priority industries, Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on Facebook.
Egypt has also indicated its readiness to channel part of its estimated $14-billion African investment portfolio to Kenya.
In addition, the partnership will see cooperation on Nile Basin development and infrastructure projects.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
China remained the leading source of FDI, contributing nearly $3.76 billion—up by 42.3 per cent YoY—and dominated FDI in the manufacturing sector, according to the Council for the Development of Cambodia and the National Bank of Cambodia (NBC).
China’s share was 73.7 per cent of total FDI, according to domestic media reports.
Cambodia attracted $5.1 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) last year—a YoY rise of 16 per cent.
China remained the leading source of FDI, contributing nearly $3.76 billion—up by 42.3 per cent YoY—and dominated FDI in the manufacturing sector.
China’s share was 73.7 per cent of total FDI.
Singapore ranked second with $347 million, accounting for 6.8 per cent of total FDI inflows.
Singapore ranked second with $347 million, accounting for 6.8 per cent of total FDI inflows. Canada came in third with $230 million, contributing 4.5 per cent. Malaysia invested $174 million, representing 3.4 per cent of total FDI, while South Korea contributed $165 million, close to 3.2 per cent.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
In the Mumbai market, cotton yarn prices moved at previous levels, as there was no encouraging demand from the consumer industry. A Mumbai-based trader told Fibre*Fashion, “Cotton yarn prices had earlier seen a steep rise, which hurt buying interest. Fabric demand remained slow, denting cotton yarn purchases. However, mills are not interested in correcting prices.”
In Mumbai, ** carded yarn of warp and weft varieties were traded at ****;*,***–*,*** (~$**.**–**.**) and ****;*,***–*,*** per * kg (~$**.**–**.**) (excluding GST), respectively. Other prices include ** combed warp at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg, ** carded weft at ****;*,***–*,*** (~$**.**–**.**) per *.* kg, **/** carded warp at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg, **/** carded warp at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg and **/** combed warp at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg, according to trade sources.
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