Huge response for ICA Dubai 2011 event

Taking place on March 15 and 16 at the Ritz Carlton Dubai International Financial Centre and graced by the presence of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the International Cotton Association’s (ICA) Dubai 2011 event has had an overwhelming response from the global cotton community - the event is now a complete sell-out with more than 600 delegates signed up to take part. 

Organised by the ICA and sponsored by some of the biggest names in cotton, Dubai 2011 is the first event of its kind to be held in Dubai. The event will also see 10 international, high profile speakers take to the stage to deliver a selection of industry presentations focusing on issues affecting the global cotton market. 

Speaking before the event, ICA President, Ray Butler explains: “We knew Dubai would be a popular location to hold the event - it is a global business hub and easily accessible, especially to the Asian market. We are honoured that His Highness will join our opening session and we are absolutely delighted with the take-up. We are confident that the event will be a success - strengthening existing business relationships and helping to develop new trade opportunities for all those delegates who have been lucky enough to secure a place.” 

Dubai 2011 is a networking and conference event that aims to provide a new opportunity and a new location for the global cotton community to come together to learn more about the cotton market, to network, to do business and to debate the important issues affecting the industry. 

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman of Dubai Multi Commodities Centre Authority, (DMCC) said: “We are delighted to see Sheikh Ahmed’s endorsement to this conference and in turn the cotton trade. This comes as a reflection of Dubai’s continued efforts to support the growth of the commodities trade in general and the cotton trade in particular. The Dubai Cotton Centre, a subsidiary of DMCC, has successfully consolidated Dubai's position as an integral link in the global cotton supply chain between Central Asia, particularly Uzbekistan, and the cotton consuming economies. Equipped by Dubai's modern logistics and transportation networks, DCC was able to re-export over 50,000 metric tons of Uzbek cotton fibre with a total value of USD $100 million since its inception in 2008. We are proud to be a platinum sponsor of the ICA’s first event in the region and look forward to discuss the recent developments in the cotton trade with the industry experts attending." 

Ray concludes: “The theme of Dubai 2011 is ‘Open to the World’, which is a clear reference both to the current state of play in the global trading market and the ICA’s enduring ambition to be truly global, with membership spanning all sectors of the cotton industry in every corner of the world. We recognise that Asia is the focal point of the raw cotton trade and staging this event in Dubai has attracted a wide participation from the Indian subcontinent and beyond.” 

To find out more about the event, including the event programme and delegate list, log on to the ICA website at: www.ica-ltd.org/events/dubai-2011.