Over half of people in Ireland (56pc) are happy with the status quo when it comes to receiving the standard State Pension at age 66, up from 35pc, according to the findings of a similar survey carried out in 2022.

A new survey of 1,000 adults nationwide from one of Ireland's leading life insurance and pensions companies, Royal London Ireland, revealed that if given the option, over one in four (26pc) would choose to take the State Pension six years earlier at age 60, even if it meant receiving €60 less per week.

Conversely, just under 1 in 5 (18pc) would hang on until age 70 to take their pension - to get an additional €60 per week, as is currently an option under changes to State Pension entitlements introduced in January of this year.

Mark Reilly, Pension Proposition Lead at Royal London Ireland, commented,

"It is notable just how many people are satisfied with the status quo.

While the recent changes have given greater flexibility around taking the pension later in life, it's clear from the research that, if anything, people would rather have the option of accessing the State pension earlier."

Additional survey findings included:

Those aged 35 - 44 expressed the strongest inclination towards accessing the State Pension earlier, with 34pc of respondents in this age category. By contrast, just 24pc of those aged 18 - 24 shared the same view.

The 18 - 24 age group were least likely to say they'd wait until age 70 for a higher pension

Men and women appear to be in agreement on this with very little difference between their responses.

Mr. Reilly added,

"It's interesting to see how perspectives on retirement evolve as individuals progress through different stages of life. Our survey results highlight the dynamic nature of retirement planning, where people's opinions can shift significantly over time. What someone envisions for retirement at the outset of their career may well change substantially as they gain experience and move through life's milestones.

Ultimately, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to retirement planning, however, having more flexibility in available options for retirement allows people to make informed decisions that align with their long-term financial security and lifestyle objectives. Talking to a Financial Broker may be helpful when planning an approach suitable to your own circumstances".

In this week's show returning guest Shelly Palmer (CNBC, CNN, Fox5) dives with Rob and Brett into what it will take for corporations to stay relevant in the AI-age. This is a wide ranging discussion on the way AI-based commerce, agency and automation will disrupt many of our current industries and institutions. Not one to be missed!

Future insights with Shelly Palmer

Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with technology, media and marketing, and the creator of the popular, free online course, Generative AI for Execs. Named LinkedIn's "Top Voice in Technology," he covers tech and business for Fox 5's Good Day New York, and is a regular commentator on CNN and CNBC.

Shelly is a prolific author.

Along with his daily newsletter, his books include, the Amazon #1 Bestseller, Blockchain - Cryptocurrency, NFTs & Smart Contracts: An executive guide to the world of decentralized finance and Television Disrupted: The Transition from Network to Networked TV, the seminal book about the technological, economic, and sociological forces that have changing everything about the the business of television, Overcoming the Digital Divide: How to use Social Media and Digital Tools to Reinvent Yourself and

Your Career, and Digital Wisdom: Thought Leadership for a Connected World.

See more podcasts here.

For the first time in the history of the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE), online entry will open from today - three months earlier than ever before. This will allow more time for students to bring their ideas to life ahead of the 2025 Exhibition taking place in Dublin from January 08 - 11, 2025.

Secondary school students aged 12-19 years old are encouraged to start brainstorming ideas now, for submission to the 2025 exhibition. By extending the submission period, students will have more time to research and develop their ideas over the summer months.

The 2025 exhibition will showcase project entries from students in five categories: Technology, Social and Behavioural Science, Biological and Ecological Science, Chemical, Physical, Mathematical Science, and Health and Wellbeing. 250 prizes, across a total prize fund of €50,000, will be awarded across all five categories and all age groups, including the overall BT Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year Award, worth €7,500.

The winner(s) will also go on to represent Ireland at the European Union Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS) in 2025.

The 2025 exhibition marks a silver anniversary for BT's custodianship of the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition and speaking on the call for entries to the BTYSTE 2025, Shay Walsh, Managing Director of BT Ireland, said: "It has been a great privilege to have been custodians and organiser of the Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition for the last twenty-five years.

Over that time, the exhibition has produced amazing STEM talent and exported some of the world's leading scientists and technologists.

While BTYSTE alumni have gone on to develop innovative companies and contribute significantly to academic research, more importantly, the exhibition has provided a platform for students to develop a love of STEM and positively contribute to broader society. We are delighted to announce that entries will open earlier and give more time to students to get involved."

Physicist & Broadcaster, and long-time special act performer at the BTYSTE, Mark Langtry, said: "I have seen first-hand the positive impact that entering the BTYSTE has had on past participants, from the friends they make in the process to the valuable skills they learn and can use in any walk of life. It's a fantastic experience, and by giving early access to the entry system it gives more time to develop ideas before the submission deadline.

I already can't wait to learn more about the ideas that next year's entrants come up with!"

Entrants will need to fill out an application form and the all-important one-page proposal outlining their idea. To submit a project to the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2025, please visit: btyoungscientist.com (https://enter.btyoungscientist.ie). To find out more information on the Exhibition, please visit BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition or follow @BTYSTE on Instagram, Facebook, X, YouTube and Snapchat (username BTYSTE).

A silver anniversary for BT's custodianship of the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

Throughout BT Ireland's 25 years as custodian and lead sponsor of the Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (YSTE), the company has made a huge impact on the exhibition as well as on the STEM sector in Ireland.

BT Ireland became lead sponsor of the YSTE at the turn of the 21st century in 2000, and just a year later introduced the Primary Science Fair, the first science exhibition of its kind in Ireland for primary school students. Since then, the Primary Science Fair annually encourages 3rd to 6th class primary school students to learn more about STEM in a non-competitive environment.

It has always been BT Ireland's goal to encourage as many young people as possible to get involved in STEM, and since the introduction of the Primary Science Fair, many thousands of primary school students have participated.

After the YSTE was in BT Ireland's custodianship for several years, BT Ireland identified a...

Up to 200 older people from across Ireland have gathered in Kilkenny for the Age Friendly Ireland National Older People's Councils (OPC) Convention, addressing the pressing issue of the technology gap experienced by older demographics.

The national annual convention at the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel - held today and tomorrow (9 May and 10 May) - will tackle concerns surrounding online banking, a cashless society, and automated customer service helplines; offering potential solutions to bridge this divide.

Age Friendly Ireland Convention

The event, attended by Minister Mary Butler, TD, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People at the Department of Health, the Older People's Councils and 31 local authority representatives, will feature discussions from panel speakers including;

Áine Flynn, Director of the Decision Support Service and Mark Harrington, National Manager, Healthy Age Friendly Homes.

Garret Doocey, Assistant Secretary from the Department of Transport with responsibility for Land Transport, Investment and Public Transport Policy will be discussing transport supports such as the travel assistance scheme, JAM card, Wayfinding centre and accessibility improvements to bus shelters, buses, age-friendly car parking and Age Friendly train stations.

Philip Hogan, CEO of Cliffrun Media, a Dublin-based technology company specialising in technology solutions for older individuals such as the ACORN Age-Friendly Smart Tablet, will be demonstrating technology that supports ageing.

Diarmuid Angland, a Department of Finance specialist, who is leading the development of a National Payments Strategy, will outline the meaning of digital inclusion and the implications of a cashless society.

The convention will include seven workshops, panel discussions and the opportunity to network and share learnings.

Hosted by the Kilkenny Age Friendly Programme and Kilkenny County Council in partnership with Age Friendly Ireland in Meath County Council, this year's theme, Ageing with Independence, underscores Age Friendly Ireland's commitment to building environments conducive to the well-being of older adults. There are approximately 806,300* people aged 65 and over living in Ireland.

Speaking at the convention, Kieran Kehoe, Chief Executive of Meath County Council and host to Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service said: "This is the only conference of its type in Ireland that harnesses the collective voice of older people and brings that wisdom directly into local government, and to the multiple stakeholders involved in the Age Friendly strategic response to demographic change.

There is a huge value for local government officials having this direct connection to the citizen voice."

Catherine McGuigan, Chief Officer of the Age Friendly Ireland Shared Service emphasised the vital role of open dialogue among older individuals, local authorities, and the Government. She said: "Older people are not a homogenous group, and it is essential that we hear from the collective voice so that older people themselves can co-design solutions to challenges.

Over the past 15 years, they have done exactly that - and thousands of innovative initiatives have been implemented based on their recommendations. That's the core principle that underpins everything we do in Age Friendly Ireland and the key reason why we hold this annual convention".

Ms McGuigan added that there are technological solutions to support independence as we age such as telecare which includes personal alarms, pendants/watches with 24-hour monitoring and smart home packages.

Speaking on behalf of the Older People's Councils, Ita Healy, Chair of the National Network of Older People's Councils said: "New policies are forthcoming that will tackle some of our concerns, including the National Payments Strategy, which aims to resolve the issue of services not accepting cash payments. Support for choice in payment is widespread.

"Safeguarding is an issue when payments can only be made online and olde...

Greenhouse, the leading hiring platform, has published its 2024 Candidate Experience Report. The report highlights candidate perspectives on the job market, their challenges and the factors they consider when applying for jobs. Greenhouse, which surveyed 2,900 job seekers in the US and EMEA regions where 200 of which were job seekers in Ireland, found that amidst a resilient job market, the majority (69%) have a confident outlook for the job market in 2024.

In fact, the majority of candidates (80%) are open to a new job opportunity. Despite many companies struggling to recruit top talent, most candidates are still experiencing frustrating, inequitable and poor hiring processes.

Candidates Swipe Left on Discriminatory Practices

As cited in Greenhouse's 2024 Candidate Interview Experience report, most (78%) candidates have experienced discriminatory questions during hiring. The most common discriminatory questions encountered during interviews relate to protected classes, such as age (37%), marital status (29%) and gender (24%).

Hiring Processes Begin to Mirror Poor Dating Habits

Over one-third of candidates (34%) report that companies have baited and switched job scopes, where the originally advertised responsibilities differed significantly once they started their role. Just under half (48%) report experiencing 'love bombing,' where they received excessive praise and flattery during the hiring process only to be lowballed with a salary and title that didn't match their qualifications, skills and experience.

Instead of a reasonable starting salary, employers may promise promotions. 51% of candidates agreed or strongly agreed that despite receiving praise during interviews, the final job did not match their qualifications, skills, and experience in terms of salary and title. Many candidates experience negative aspects like ghosting and bait-and-switch tactics. Half feel their qualifications aren't reflected in job offers.

The Candidate Experience Report found that in Ireland, more than half of applicants (57%) are frustrated to have invested considerable time in multi-stage interviews only to be rejected. In Ireland, however, this was less prevalent: only 51% of job seekers said 1-2 interviews were the maximum they would do, with 49% willing to go through a longer process of up to 6 interviews.

This finding highlights the extensive nature of job hunting and the cultural differences in how much time candidates are willing to spend to find a job.

"Despite the thriving job market in Ireland and the optimism from job seekers, there is a discrepancy between reality and perception: a significant amount of candidates are experiencing problematic hiring practices," says

"From baiting and switching to ghosting, the trust between employers and applicants has been put at risk. Candidates commit considerable time and effort to finding the right job yet feel divided on whether hiring processes have improved or worsened. As technology transforms the hiring process, companies must prioritize transparency and equity along with innovation and efficiency. Only by being clear on expectations and communicating with job seekers can these companies find the right candidate."

DE&I Persists: Diversity Remains Top of Mind in Job Search

Amidst a strong economy and job market growth, over a third of job seekers (36%) say Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DE&I) is still an important consideration when applying for a position, underscoring changing societal values. 40% of candidates said that they evaluate a company's DE&I commitment by the benefits that promote equity, such as remote work, healthcare options, etc.

Poor Cultures & Flawed Hiring Practices Fuel Candidate Disengagement

Company culture plays a vital role in candidates' decision to apply for a job. Most respondents (79%) say a company's culture and external brand influence their decision to apply. Negative reviews on platforms such as Glassdoor or viral posts on TikTok could cause companies to...

Vertigenius, a pioneering MedTech company specialising in the treatment of vertigo, has announced the successful closure of its seed round investment, raising more than €2.1M in funding. This will enable the company to create 10 new jobs and expand into the UK and US. The investment round was significantly oversubscribed, indicative of strong market confidence in the company's innovative approach to addressing vertigo.

Atlantic Bridge led the round, which also included investments from Ascentifi and Enterprise Ireland.

Vertigo is a common, highly treatable, but often debilitating condition affecting 390 million people worldwide every year. Most patients recover by being referred to a vestibular therapist and carrying out a set of prescribed exercises at home. However, a shortage of experts in the area means that treatment can be delayed or even inaccessible. Furthermore, the complexity of the exercises means that patients can struggle with adherence to the treatment.

Founded by vestibular expert Dr Dara Meldrum, Vertigenius aims to improve the delivery of care to people suffering from vertigo. The company has developed a wearable head sensor and software that allows therapists to prescribe and track exercises carried out by patients, monitor patient symptoms and therefore gain insights into the effectiveness of treatments.

Interacting with a head sensor that is worn during exercises, a patient-facing app shows users how to correctly carry out their exercises and monitors their symptoms in real time. This enables therapists to deliver care more effectively, reduce patient visits and reduce lengthy waiting lists.

With the new infusion of capital, Vertigenius is poised to accelerate its expansion into new markets. The company's software is currently being used by clinics and more than 1,000 patients in Ireland. It plans to enter the UK market in the middle of 2024 and the US market early next year. The addressable market for its solution in these three countries alone is almost €3BN annually.

The company also plans to leverage the funds to continue with the product development of its head sensor. Vertigenius intends to launch a second version of its head sensor in 2025.

In addition to fuelling product development and market expansion, the seed round will enable Vertigenius to make 10 new hires to support its growth trajectory. Recent additions to the leadership team in 2024 include Damien Daly (ex-Glofox) as Chief Technology Officer and Patrick Schoeman (ex-Aligner Dental Academy) as Chief Commercial Officer.

Mark Barry, CEO, Vertigenius, said:. "This investment is a testament to the transformative potential of our products in revolutionising the treatment of vertigo. Worldwide, patients who have been diagnosed with vertigo can face months-long waiting lists or an inability to get access to treatment at all.

"Research has shown that patients with vertigo are 12 times more likely to have a fall, while 63% of them lose workdays and 50% suffer from anxiety. Our mission is to enable early access to high quality care for vertigo patients, which will improve the lives of millions of people. With this funding, we are well-positioned to advance this ambitious mission."

Dr. Dara Meldrum, founder, Vertigenius, said: "We know that vestibular rehabilitation is effective, however access to treatment is a major issue. Our products enable better access by monitoring treatment in the home and delivering faster care through technology.

"Exercise programmes can be complicated for those in the midst of vertigo episodes, and our patients respond very well to the real-time guidance from our solution. So not only do we enable therapists to treat more patients more quickly, but we also dramatically improve the patient experience."

Conor O'Sullivan, Investment Director, Atlantic Bridge, said: "We look forward to partnering with Vertigenius as they pioneer advancements in vertigo treatment. The company's innovative approach, based on technology develo...

Vertigenius, a pioneering MedTech company specialising in the treatment of vertigo, has announced the successful closure of its seed round investment, raising more than €2.1M in funding. This will enable the company to create 10 new jobs and expand into the UK and US. The investment round was significantly oversubscribed, indicative of strong market confidence in the company's innovative approach to addressing vertigo.

Atlantic Bridge led the round, which also included investments from Ascentifi and Enterprise Ireland.

Vertigo is a common, highly treatable, but often debilitating condition affecting 390 million people worldwide every year. Most patients recover by being referred to a vestibular therapist and carrying out a set of prescribed exercises at home. However, a shortage of experts in the area means that treatment can be delayed or even inaccessible. Furthermore, the complexity of the exercises means that patients can struggle with adherence to the treatment.

Founded by vestibular expert Dr Dara Meldrum, Vertigenius aims to improve the delivery of care to people suffering from vertigo. The company has developed a wearable head sensor and software that allows therapists to prescribe and track exercises carried out by patients, monitor patient symptoms and therefore gain insights into the effectiveness of treatments.

Interacting with a head sensor that is worn during exercises, a patient-facing app shows users how to correctly carry out their exercises and monitors their symptoms in real time. This enables therapists to deliver care more effectively, reduce patient visits and reduce lengthy waiting lists.

With the new infusion of capital, Vertigenius is poised to accelerate its expansion into new markets. The company's software is currently being used by clinics and more than 1,000 patients in Ireland. It plans to enter the UK market in the middle of 2024 and the US market early next year. The addressable market for its solution in these three countries alone is almost €3BN annually.

The company also plans to leverage the funds to continue with the product development of its head sensor. Vertigenius intends to launch a second version of its head sensor in 2025.

In addition to fuelling product development and market expansion, the seed round will enable Vertigenius to make 10 new hires to support its growth trajectory. Recent additions to the leadership team in 2024 include Damien Daly (ex-Glofox) as Chief Technology Officer and Patrick Schoeman (ex-Aligner Dental Academy) as Chief Commercial Officer.

Mark Barry, CEO, Vertigenius, said:. "This investment is a testament to the transformative potential of our products in revolutionising the treatment of vertigo. Worldwide, patients who have been diagnosed with vertigo can face months-long waiting lists or an inability to get access to treatment at all.

"Research has shown that patients with vertigo are 12 times more likely to have a fall, while 63% of them lose workdays and 50% suffer from anxiety. Our mission is to enable early access to high quality care for vertigo patients, which will improve the lives of millions of people. With this funding, we are well-positioned to advance this ambitious mission."

Dr. Dara Meldrum, founder, Vertigenius, said: "We know that vestibular rehabilitation is effective, however access to treatment is a major issue. Our products enable better access by monitoring treatment in the home and delivering faster care through technology.

"Exercise programmes can be complicated for those in the midst of vertigo episodes, and our patients respond very well to the real-time guidance from our solution. So not only do we enable therapists to treat more patients more quickly, but we also dramatically improve the patient experience."

Conor O'Sullivan, Investment Director, Atlantic Bridge, said: "We look forward to partnering with Vertigenius as they pioneer advancements in vertigo treatment. The company's innovative approach, based on technology develo...

Industry and academia are to come together to explore tech issues around cybersecurity, AI, cloud computing and empowering communities as part of this year's AtlanTec Festival.

University of Galway and non-profit enterprise association itag - Innovation Technology AtlanTec Gateway - will mark 10 years of collaboration and innovation at a one-day event with informative, practical and engaging displays of the latest technology developments that impact both society and the workplace.

Taking place on Thursday May 16th, the annual AtlanTec Festival Conference is one of the highlights of the 10th annual AtlanTec Festival, which kicks off in Galway today.

The event - Connecting Communities through Technology Innovation - is expected to attract more than 300 delegates and includes international speakers and the region's tech companies.

Canada-based author and futurist Peter Scott, who hosts the weekly podcast "AI and You", will deliver a keynote address dissecting the role technology plays in modern-day life. Querying whether technology is serving us or whether we serve technology, his talk will challenge attendees to view AI not merely as a tool but as a catalytic force capable of shaping not only a productive but meaningful future of work.

Other speakers will include Dr Mamoona Asghar from University of Galway's School of Computer Science who will discuss cyber security and modern social engineering attacks and Laura Brodahl, Senior Associate at Wilson Sonsini, who will discuss the future impact on business of Europe's new AI Act which will regulate aspects of this evolving technology.

Andrew Ayres, Master Strategist for Hewlett-Packard Enterprise, will provide insights into the methodologies behind AI-driven analytics and the pivotal role they play in informing strategic business initiatives.

The conference is backed by the University of Galway's Innovation Office, which supports industry-academic collaborations and start-ups.

Professor Jim Livesey, Vice-President Research and Innovation at University of Galway, said: "We are thrilled to host itag's AtlanTec Conference Connecting Communities through Technology Innovation. This conference serves as a platform for academia and industry to draw inspiration from each other and collaborate to capitalise on the transformative potential of technology - resulting in building stronger, more interconnected communities."

itag Board Chair and Senior Vice President, Fidelity Investments, Sharon Walsh, said: "The AtlanTec festival has been pivotal in the advancement of the technology community here in the west of Ireland for the past ten years.

Through the ongoing support of our members and the University of Galway, the annual conference brings together people and companies redefining the global tech industry.?We connect through discussion, active listening and ideation on the most relevant tech industry developments that will shape our future work."

For more information on the conference and to register, visit www.atlantec.ie.

Salesforce Tower Dublin hosted Irish nonprofits, education groups, and foundations to mark the one-year anniversary of its official opening. Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Daithí de Róiste and as well as Carolan Lennon, Salesforce Ireland Country Leader were in attendance and led the celebration.

The 'Ohana Floors in Dublin form part of a global initiative offering event spaces at the top of Salesforce towers to nonprofits and foundations aligned with the company's culture of giving back. To date, events on our global 'Ohana Floors have raised over $111 million for non-profit organisations.

Community members can submit a request to use the space for free to host charitable fundraisers, receptions, and special events that have a focus on humanitarian, social, educational, or environmental causes.

Located on the 7th and 8th floors of Salesforce Tower Dublin, the 'Ohana floors are a flexible, open space used during the day by Salesforce employees, customers and partners to collaborate and connect with each other. Guests can enjoy the barista bar, chef's table, and stunning views of Dublin's River Liffey and skyline.

"Salesforce has been contributing to the innovation, economic growth and social impact in Dublin for many years," said Lord Mayor of Dublin, Councillor Daithí de Róiste. "The 'Ohana Floor in Salesforce Tower and what it offers is another example of how the company continues to invest in the community. We're delighted to have this beautiful space available to our city."

"We believe that business can be the greatest platform for change and our impact goes further with collective action. Salesforce Dublin Tower is a beautiful space designed to foster collaboration, innovation, and giving back to the community," said Carolan Lennon, Salesforce Ireland Country Leader.

"The 'Ohana Floors are designed to welcome local charities and organisations to use the space and we support them to use this resource to its fullest potential, further strengthening our community connection."

One of the first organisations to use the facilities included Special Olympics Ireland. The tower hosted a reunion for volunteers who travelled to Berlin in June 2023 to offer their time in support of Team Ireland's journey to the Special Olympics World Summer Games. The event focused on recognising and celebrating these volunteers who gave up their time to support Team Ireland.

"The 'Ohana Floor facilities offered at Salesforce Tower Dublin provide a wonderful space for community and collaboration," said Matt English, CEO of Special Olympics Ireland. "Volunteers play such a vital role in Special Olympics and we're proud we had the opportunity to be one of the first organisations to host an event here to celebrate those individuals."

Giving back has been part of the DNA of Salesforce since the company was founded 25 years ago. Since opening in Ireland in 2001 Irish employees have volunteered over 325,000 hours, and last week hosted the company's largest ever Volunteering Time Off (VTO) activity, bringing over 1,100 employees together to walk, run, cycle or hike to raise money for local charities Breakthrough Cancer Research, Special Olympics Ireland, and Difference Days.

See more stories here.

Better Cotton, the world's largest cotton sustainability initiative, is to conduct sustainability mapping and assessments in West and Central Africa to enhance its understanding of the needs of smallholder farmers in the region and identify context-specific interventions.

Funded by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank), these assessments will inform ways in which targeted support can aid the production of more sustainable and regenerative cotton across Better Cotton's programmes in Mali and Côte d'Ivoire - which engage a combined 200,000 farmers and farm workers.

Helping grow sustainable cotton production in Africa

This collaboration between Better Cotton and Afreximbank is part of wider efforts on the continent, led by the World Trade Organization (WTO) and football governing body FIFA, which aim to support the development of the cotton-to-textile value chain in West and Central Africa and improve economic returns for the sector.

In 2022, the WTO and FIFA formalised a partnership to enhance the participation of Burkina Faso, Benin, Chad and Mali - known as the Cotton Four (C4) - as well as neighbouring countries like Côte d'Ivoire, within apparel value chains.

In February of this year, the pair officially launched a coalition, 'Partenariat pour le Coton' - of which Better Cotton is a member - to accelerate work on this front.

In doing so, they issued a call for investment, emphasising that the current balance of exporting 90% cotton raw material falls short of the region's economic potential. While raw material exports generate vital revenues, organisations active on the continent believe there is scope to bolster local processing capacities in order to boost incomes.

Better Cotton's assessments - conducted with support from its Programme Partners in Mali and Côte d'Ivoire - will connect farming communities to the WTO and FIFA's mission to strengthen supply chains in the region.

Better Cotton remains committed to Africa and continues to build upon its presence on the continent. In November 2023, the organisation launched its programme in Côte d'Ivoire and co-hosted an event in Chad to discuss opportunities to establish a programme in the country.

Alan McClay, Chief Executive Officer at Better Cotton, commented: "Africa is a vibrant and exciting region for cotton production and our expansion on the continent is demonstrative of that. At the heart of our mission are cotton farmers, workers and the surrounding communities - these assessments will help optimise our efforts and pave the way for continued sustainable economic development across Mali and Côte d'Ivoire."

Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade Bank, Afreximbank, said: "Through initiatives like these, we are committed to supporting Africa's smallholder farmers and the entire cotton value chain, enabling them to extract maximum value from their produce, boost value addition, attain higher levels of sustainability and improve quality, all while prioritising superior products with global market potential."

Better Cotton is the world's largest cotton sustainability initiative. Our mission: to help cotton communities survive and thrive, while protecting and restoring the environment. In challenging times, we are meeting the challenge head on. In the 2021-22 cotton season, through our network of field-level partners, 22% of global cotton production was Better Cotton, grown in 22 countries around the world.

Our programmes reached 2.8 million farmers, which included more than 2.2 million Better Cotton licensed farmers. Over one fifth of the world's cotton is now grown under the Better Cotton Standard.

https://bettercotton.org/

Better Cotton, in Collaboration With African Export-Import Bank, Joins WTO and FIFA Efforts To Scale More Sustainable Cotton Production in Africa - Better Cotton

African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. For 30 ...