Kofi Annan Discusses Global Compact at World Textile Summit
October 13, 2011 With an emphasis on sustainability and the globalization of the textile industry, former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan delivered the keynote speech to nearly 300 attendees at the first-ever World Textile Summit (WTS), which was held on Barcelona, Spain on Sept. 21.
Annan issued a strong call to action for more companies to join the UN Global Compact, an initiative he began 10 years ago in an attempt to encourage sustainable business development — economically, socially and environmentally. To date, more than 8,700 companies from 130 nations have joined the effort.
He also encouraged textile companies to work more closely with their local communities to not just improve the industry, but for the betterment of the community’s residents as well. He summarized his position in one sentence: “Doing good is good for business.”
Other speakers at the event included Bashir Ali Mohammad and Christian Schindler, president and director general of the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF), respectively; Loek de Vries, CEO of Royal Tencate; Thomas Babacan, CEO of Oerlikon Textile; Philip Chamberlain, head of sustainability for C&A Europe; Barry Eichengreen, professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley; Brian Guidry, vice-director of production at Mango; Dilip Jiwrajka, managing director of Alok Industries; Du Yuzhou, president of the China National Textile and Apparel Council; and Rufus Yerxa, deputy director general with the World Trade Organization.
WTS is a joint venture between CEMATEX, the owner of the International Textile Machinery Association (ITMA), ITMF, and in partnership with the World Textile Information Network and MP International.
Stay tuned for more coverage of the WTS, ITMF, and ITMA meetings in future editions of Cotton International’s e-newsletter.
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