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ICAC

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) is an association of governments having an interest in the production, export, import, and consumption of cotton. It is an organization designed to promote cooperation in cotton affairs. It affords its members a continuous understanding of the world cotton situation and provides a forum for international consultation and discussion.

The functions of the ICAC are:

• To observe and keep in close touch with developments affecting the world cotton situation;

• To collect and disseminate complete, authentic, and timely statistics on world cotton production, trade, consumption, stocks and prices;

• To suggest, as and when advisable, to the governments represented, any measures the Advisory Committee considers suitable and practicable for the furtherance of international collaboration with due regard to maintaining and developing a sound world cotton economy;

• To be the forum for international discussions on matters related to cotton prices. For several years, ICAC ensures the coordination of the Expert panel devoted to the modernisation of cotton classing as well as the Forum of cotton promotion.

The ICAC Secretariat, based in Washington, DC, USA, has two main research sections:

the Economics and Statistics Information Section (ESIS) and the Technical Information Section (TIS).

ESIS collects data on the cotton market worldwide and is the premier source of international data on the world cotton industry.

It forecasts cotton supply, use and prices, estimates cotton supply by type, and tracks exports by destination and imports by origin. ESIS measures and forecasts cotton consumption and cotton's share of fiber demand in the world and by region and is the primary source in the world for statistics on fiber demand. ESIS conducts an annual study documenting government measures affecting cotton production, ginning and trade. ESIS works closely with other international organizations to develop research on the cotton market, by country, regionally and worldwide.

TIS provides updates on cotton production research,

gathers and disseminates information pertaining to cotton research programs, and develops lines of communication among researchers. Among other projects, TIS publishes every two years a Survey of the Cost of Production of Raw Cotton, a compilation of Current Research Projects in Cotton, and a Survey of Cotton Production Practices.