Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08OUAGADOUGOU332
2008-04-24 07:56:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Ouagadougou
Cable title:
BURKINA FASO TO HOST AFRICAN "COTTON UNIVERSITY"
how-toVZCZCXRO6543 RR RUEHMA RUEHPA DE RUEHOU #0332 1150756 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 240756Z APR 08 FM AMEMBASSY OUAGADOUGOU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3591 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC RUEHRC/USDA FAS WASHDC 0049 RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0269 INFO RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 0494 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0151 RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 0014 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 0036 RUEHSB/AMEMBASSY HARARE 0040 RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM 0041 RUEHPC/AMEMBASSY LOME 2039 RUEHNJ/AMEMBASSY NDJAMENA 0205 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0021 RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0664 RUEHYD/AMEMBASSY YAOUNDE 0017
UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000332
SIPDIS
ACCRA FOR USAID
DAKAR FOR FAS RHANSON
USTR FOR LAURIE-AGAMA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR ECON EAID PREL USTR UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO TO HOST AFRICAN "COTTON UNIVERSITY"
UNCLAS OUAGADOUGOU 000332
SIPDIS
ACCRA FOR USAID
DAKAR FOR FAS RHANSON
USTR FOR LAURIE-AGAMA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR ECON EAID PREL USTR UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO TO HOST AFRICAN "COTTON UNIVERSITY"
1. Key Point:
-- A French foundation and business school, with the financial
backing of France and the European Union, are working with a
regional producers association to found a "Cotton University" in
Burkina Faso for students from 15 cotton-producing nations.
2. Key Judgment:
-- The impetus behind the creation of this school was the
recognition that poor management techniques by African producers,
not just subsidies by global competitors, are also behind their
sector's woes.
End Key Point and Key Judgment:
3. African cotton producers have concluded that removal of American
and European subsidies will not alone resolve their industry's
current difficulties. One solution proposed by African heads of
state during the 24th Africa-France Summit in February 2007 in
Cannes, France was the creation of a "Cotton University" similar to
U.S. universities with faculties focusing on the cotton sector, aka
"cotton schools."
4. In this regard, the Association of African Cotton Producers
(APROCA) recently announced that, starting in September 2008,
Burkina Faso would become home to a newly founded "Cotton
University." This "University" will be located on the campus of the
University of Bobo-Dioulasso with an annual enrollment of 20 to 30
new students from 15 African cotton-producing nations. Classes will
better acquaint African cotton producers with the competitive
realities of the world cotton industry by offering courses in
management, marketing, and research. The curriculum will be taught
by skilled technicians, who will explain modern production methods,
capacity building techniques, risk management, cotton
classification, and the dynamics of world cotton prices.
5. The project will be jointly sponsored by APROCA, the prestigious
HEC School of Management in Paris, and the Foundation for World
Agriculture and Rural Life (FARM),a French non-profit organization
whose founding organizations include a USAID-counterpart, the Agence
Francaise de Developpement. The school, which is expected to cost
Euro 4.6 million (US 7.2 million) to operate during the first three
years, will be run with financial backing from France and the
European Union. HEC plans a Paris-based cotton exhibition at the
end of May to highlight the opening of the new school.
6. The city of Bobo-Dioulasso, in southwestern Burkina Faso, was
chosen as the University's future home because of its reputation as
"the capital of the Burkinabe cotton industry." The area is also
well-known for its successful field trials of genetically modified
or "Bt" cotton with U.S. biotechnology company, Monsanto.
JACKSON
SIPDIS
ACCRA FOR USAID
DAKAR FOR FAS RHANSON
USTR FOR LAURIE-AGAMA
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD EAGR ECON EAID PREL USTR UV
SUBJECT: BURKINA FASO TO HOST AFRICAN "COTTON UNIVERSITY"
1. Key Point:
-- A French foundation and business school, with the financial
backing of France and the European Union, are working with a
regional producers association to found a "Cotton University" in
Burkina Faso for students from 15 cotton-producing nations.
2. Key Judgment:
-- The impetus behind the creation of this school was the
recognition that poor management techniques by African producers,
not just subsidies by global competitors, are also behind their
sector's woes.
End Key Point and Key Judgment:
3. African cotton producers have concluded that removal of American
and European subsidies will not alone resolve their industry's
current difficulties. One solution proposed by African heads of
state during the 24th Africa-France Summit in February 2007 in
Cannes, France was the creation of a "Cotton University" similar to
U.S. universities with faculties focusing on the cotton sector, aka
"cotton schools."
4. In this regard, the Association of African Cotton Producers
(APROCA) recently announced that, starting in September 2008,
Burkina Faso would become home to a newly founded "Cotton
University." This "University" will be located on the campus of the
University of Bobo-Dioulasso with an annual enrollment of 20 to 30
new students from 15 African cotton-producing nations. Classes will
better acquaint African cotton producers with the competitive
realities of the world cotton industry by offering courses in
management, marketing, and research. The curriculum will be taught
by skilled technicians, who will explain modern production methods,
capacity building techniques, risk management, cotton
classification, and the dynamics of world cotton prices.
5. The project will be jointly sponsored by APROCA, the prestigious
HEC School of Management in Paris, and the Foundation for World
Agriculture and Rural Life (FARM),a French non-profit organization
whose founding organizations include a USAID-counterpart, the Agence
Francaise de Developpement. The school, which is expected to cost
Euro 4.6 million (US 7.2 million) to operate during the first three
years, will be run with financial backing from France and the
European Union. HEC plans a Paris-based cotton exhibition at the
end of May to highlight the opening of the new school.
6. The city of Bobo-Dioulasso, in southwestern Burkina Faso, was
chosen as the University's future home because of its reputation as
"the capital of the Burkinabe cotton industry." The area is also
well-known for its successful field trials of genetically modified
or "Bt" cotton with U.S. biotechnology company, Monsanto.
JACKSON