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Kai Hughes

new Executive

Director of ICAC

Kai Hughes is the new Executive Director of the Director/CEO of the International Cotton Association
International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). (ICA), headquartered in Liverpool, UK, for the last 9
Hughes is the 7th Executive Director in the history of years. He has over 20 years of senior management
the Committee since its formation in 1939. Kai experience in challenging environments. Mr. Hughes
Hughes was recommended to the Standing thanked the Standing Committee of ICAC for the
Committee of ICAC by a Task Force composed of honour of serving as Executive Director. He very
diplomats in Washington representing nine members much looks forward to leading the outstanding
Secretariat and working with committed and highly
Collaboration between NTU basis rather than any geographic and capable government officials on the Standing
of ICAC. The selections in ICAC are done on merit
Committee and in Coordinating Agencies, along with
national quotas.
and IBA Karachi for Previously Hughes was serving as a Managing representatives of the private sector, to fulfil the
mission of ICAC to foster a healthy cotton sector.

promoting entrepreneurship

National Textile University, Faisalabad (NTU) has Entrepreneurship” program in collaboration with NTU in
entered into a collaborative partnership with Institute of Faisalabad. This award-winning Entrepreneurship
Business Administration, Karachi (IBA) after signing a model will be taught on weekends (Friday and
MOU for promoting entrepreneurship. The Saturday) and will span over a period of two months. USAID improved skilled labor
memorandum was signed by Rector NTU Professor Dr. The certificate program will be taught by IBA faculty.
Tanveer Hussain and Professor Dr. Farrukh Iqbal, Dean During this period, IBA will also provide training to
and Director IBA Karachi. Many esteemed dignitaries selected faculty members of NTU on their model of in Kenyan apparel sector
from Industry and Academia attended MOU signing entrepreneurship and will help NTU to establish a
ceremony. Dr. Shahid Qureshi, Director Centre for Centre for Entrepreneurial Development in Faisalabad.
Entrepreneurial Development IBA Karachi, shared the
history, launch and success of IBA’s model of Classes of first batch are expected to start in USAID’s East Africa Trade and Investment Hub said by the press release of the USAID. It will help
entrepreneurial development with the audience. November. Exact details about application deadlines, started an initiative to train about 2,000 Kenyan youth sustain Kenya's apparel exports to the United States
fee structure, class schedule and eligibility criteria will for a full time sewing machine operator job. After this under the African Growth and Opportunity Act
According to the MOU, IBA will launch “Certificate in be available at websites of both institutions training the youth will be able to help tackle the issue (AGOA), which was renewed recently till 2025.
of skilled labor that is hindering the growth of apparel
industry in Kenya. Large apparel firms like Mombasa The training of the first group started in Mombasa
Government aiding exporters to enhance exports Apparel and Africa Apparel EPZ are hosting the and Kilifi counties while the same started in Nairobi
as well. The curriculum of the training focuses on the
training centers.
technical and soft skills like effective communication
The government of Pakistan has taken concrete Under the package, incentives for current fiscal The idea is initiated by the USAID grantee Career and time management skills etc. The workforce
measures to facilitate the exporters to enhance year would be available to those exporters who Readiness Social Initiative Limited which is a local training program will be rolled out to other countries
exports. Officials from the commerce ministry told would achieve 10 percent increase in annual subsidiary of the McKinsey Social Initiative, as per in East Africa.
that the export package of Rs.180 billion for exports. “Rs.107.5 billion out of annual allocation
business community to increase exports is have also been made for textile sector” said
applicable till June 30 next year. the official.

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