Mali, which produces eight lakh tonnes of cotton a year, is looking at direct exports of cotton to the Indian textile industry. Niankoro Yeah Samake, Mali?s Ambassador in India, told that about 20 per cent of Mali?s cotton is consumed by India. However, most of the trade is through foreign companies.
?So, there are opportunities to trade directly,? added Samake. Currently, Europe and China are the biggest buyers of the West African nation?s cotton.
Mali produces long staple cotton and only 5 per cent of it is processed in that country and the rest is exported. Mali Government is offering incentives for investments in the textile sector and there are opportunities for joint ventures too.