Mirza Salman Ispahani from Bangladesh is president of the International Cotton Association (ICA). He is the first spinner and buyer to be elected head of the global trade body and will remain in the position until 2018. Ispahani is chairman of the Pahartali Textile and Hosiery Mills. A barrister he is a former president and founder vice president of Chittagong Stock Exchange.
ICA is the world’s leading international cotton trade association and arbitral body which was formed in 1841 in UK when a group of cotton brokers created a set of bylaws and rules to help regulate the sale and purchase of raw cotton. At present, about 90 per cent of the world’s cotton is traded internationally under the bylaws and rules of ICA. It has over 550 members who represent all sectors of the supply chain. The ICA offers arbitration, training, trade and networking events, plus cotton testing and research.
He will build on this and encourage ever more transparency and closer liaison with ICA’s important growing markets in Vietnam, Indonesia and the sub-continent. He plans to expand the reach of ICA and feels there is a need for continued strategic operations and innovation at ICA.
