With a view to resolve disputes in arising out of non-payment for cotton and explore means for future cooperation, a high-level delegation of the International Cotton Association (ICA) is likely to visit in Dhaka soon. As per sources, the ICA has already informed BTMA (Bangladesh Textile Mills Association), the apex body of the country’s textile mills, urging it to make necessary arrangements in this regard. In November last, ICA president Jordan Lea had visited Bangladesh and held discussions with BTMA president Jahangir Alamin and requested him for arranging mediation for early settlement of disputes.

It must be mentioned here that ICA has recently introduced mediation mechanism for quick settlement of disputes between the party and the review board. BTMA has already written to member mills, which have defaulted on behal of ICA, in this regards.

Liverpool-based ICA, which oversees the global cotton trade, introduced the mediation services to help resolve disputes over reneged contracts that have blocked hundreds of blacklisted firms from doing business. The ICA prepares the list based on complaints from cotton supplying companies worldwide. The companies became defaulters as the importing companies did not receive shipments for an abnormal price hike of the item in 2010-2011. It has blacklisted as many as 700 companies as defaulters including 96 from Bangladesh for failing to make payments to suppliers. The group is now trying to find ways to help get them off that list

BTMA has informed ICA to appoint arbitrators in Bangladesh to resolve disputes in payment as it was very expensive to attend the hearings in UK.