CAIRO: A decision by the ministers of agriculture and trade in cooperation with the Chamber of Ministers to stop importing foreign cotton and compel local companies to use Egyptian cotton is being criticized. Yahya Zananiri, chairman of the Garment Manufacturers Association, said the decision has many defects and that the Ministry of Agriculture is imposing its mistakes on the industry after Egyptian cotton was grown in quantities beyond the needs of domestic consumption. Zananiri pointed out that the cultivation of cotton must be subject to the needs of the market and not to “brutish" governmental policies. He said Egypt has been subject to conflicting policies regarding cotton for nearly a decade. The government has not presented clear policies for the cultivation, consumption and importation of cotton, he said, adding that that Egyptian cotton has technical defects incompatible with Egyptian industrial needs. Thus, he said, this policy will cause problems for cotton manufacturers and exporters. Mohamed Morshedi, chairman of the Chamber of Textile Industries, said the chamber sent recommendations to the ministries regarding the quantities and types of Egyptian cotton required by the market to prevent the cultivation of amounts of cotton beyond domestic consumption. He added that the government is the final decision maker. Morshedi said it was agreed to form a committee to follow up on the effects of the resolution.
