Cotton USA to make Thailand its regional centre

Nation ^ | 06/07/2013 | Kansucha Suvarnkorn

[TexGrill]

Cotton USA has chosen Thailand as its centre in Southeast Asia to promote and expand the use of cotton from the United States, banking on the Asean Economic Community (AEC) to drive demand for the commodity. Kraipob Pangsapa, Cotton USA's Thailand representative, said the plan was in progress and an operational budget under consideration to propose to its headquarters by the end of this month. The plan includes creating brand awareness in the region for US cotton.

The opening of the AEC in 2015 will pave the way for the organisation to promote US cotton to a market of 600 million people. Asean is the United States' fourth-biggest market for cotton export, behind Europe, Japan and South America. Last year, Asean countries imported 1.2 million tonnes of cotton from the US. While Thailand imported a total of 360,000 tonnes of cotton, 95,000 tonnes came from the US, accounting for 25.5 per cent.

"From now on, the marketing strategy of the organisation will not only aim at any single country, but the whole bloc," Kraipob said.

Under its plan, Vietnam and Indonesia will be the first countries in which Cotton USA promotes its commodity by aiming at consumer groups. It has found that Vietnam offers big potential because it consumes high-quality cotton, similar to the trend in Thailand. Meanwhile Indonesia, with its 280 million people, also offers big business potential. The promotional plan in those two countries will be commenced next year.

Singapore, Malaysia and Myanmar are next. Cotton USA will also set up an office in the Philippines.

[TexGrill]

I anticipate Southeast Asia will open numerous textile factories and in a decade or so these mills will move to Africa.

[acapesket]

Wait til they find out that it is gmo b/t cotton from Mostevilanto.

[Toddsterpatriot]

Oh no, they’ll hate our good cotton. Even if cotton makes you sad.