650+ connect in Dubai for the Future of Cotton

Over 650 delegates from the global cotton community gathered from 8-9 October at Dubai 2025 - the ICA's traditional trade event and gala dinner.

Delegates came together in Hilton Dubai Al Habtoor City, Dubai to take part in the two-day event, which saw a variety of top industry speakers take to the stage and share their insights on the event theme, The Future of Cotton.

The event featured keynote sessions from Joe Nicosia (Louis Dreyfus Company), Carla Slim (Standard Chartered Bank) and Uday Gill (Gherzi Consulting). A panel session moderated by Eimear McDonagh (Agri Vision Australia) explored the evolution of ICE and a Cotton Connected session delivered an update on the China region. This year's event also included a unique training opportunity chaired by Jagdish Parihar (Strategic Risk Advisor), where a selection of industry experts shared their knowledge and best practice advice on 'Navigating Risk in the Textile Value Chain'.

As usual, there was plenty of opportunity for delegates to network and do business, one of the main event attractions.

At the closing Gala Dinner, Mohomed Bashir (Gul Ahmed Textile Mills) passed over the ICA presidency to Pierre Chehab (Louis Dreyfus Company). Mohomed Bashir reflected on key areas of focus during his time as ICA President:

"Over the past year, I have had the honor of serving this Association as its President. It has been a journey filled with challenges, opportunities, and meaningful progress, and I am humbled by the trust you placed in me…. Together, we have delivered tangible results across many areas of our work.

One of the most significant steps we took is the introduction of a new IT system transforming our old vision into a modern and sustainable framework. This ensures that ICA's knowledge, history, and processes are safeguarded for the future, so that if one individual leaves, the Association's collective memory and operational strength remain firmly intact. Another key initiative was a fresh look at the Unfulfilled Awards List…. We began working on ways to make this system more balanced, fair, and supportive of all parties, laying the foundation for a stronger and more equitable trade environment.

Looking to the future, we invited Mr. Uday Gill to lead the development of a comprehensive strategic programme for the ICA. Our new strategy reaffirms what ICA must always stand for: fair contracts, enforceable awards, balanced rules, and transparent governance. It sets a clear course for the future, from strengthening enforcement and closing long-standing rule gaps, to expanding education and training, and working more closely with global partners to defend cotton's place in the textile world.

Above all, this strategy reminds us that ICA is a truly global association. Today we represent 359 firms in over 40 countries, alongside 280 individual members worldwide. This diversity is our strength, and with a sharper vision and stronger execution, I am confident ICA will remain both relevant and influential in the decades to come.…"

Next year's event will take place in Istanbul, Türkiye from 14-15 October. Full details will be posted on the ICA website soon.

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