Brochure AFCOT 2020

AFCOT 2020 29 The development of AFCOT In the aim of regulating the markets and protecting the industry’s interests, a group of importers founded the Syndicat du Commerce des Cotons in Le Havre in 1890. The union became a non-profit organiza- tion in 1943. It was then open to everyone, traders, brokers, bankers and other people involved in the cotton trade who had their head office or affiliate in Le Havre. It was then renamed Association du Marché des Cotons du Havre. The following year saw the terrible bom- bings of September 1944. The minutes of the Ordinary General Mee- ting on 27 July 1945 state that: «The cotton union no longer exists, only the four walls of the stock exchange have been left standing and, of our organi- zation’s 99 members, 70 have had their offices totally destroyed. This is a terrible disaster. The joy caused by the city’s libe- ration on Tuesday 12 September 1944 was cut short by the disaster, which was plain for all to see. Those of you who stayed in Le Havre saw the Allied troops’ emotional arrival and we are incredibly grateful to them. Our thoughts are with the victims, who number in their thousands. » Now in need of new premises, the organi- zation accepted the generous offer from Anderson Clayton, which agreed to share its miraculously preserved offices. It was only after the massive reconstruc- tion of the city that the organization found new premises in the stock exchange in 1958 (photographs of the old and new stock exchange). ‘Corresponding members’ status was created in the same year for companies based overseas. The first to join was Hirji Bharmal & Co from Bombay, India. In November 1962, the Association du Marché des Cotons du Havre became the Association Française du Commerce des Cotons (AFCOT). In November 1968, the acronym AFCOT was simplified and remains ‘Association Française Cotonnière’. In the 1960s and 70s, AFCOT had so- mething of a political role. Its represen- tatives attended meetings with the Trade Ministry and the organization gave its opi- nions on the general issues affecting the cotton trade, controlling prices, multi-fibre agreements, etc. Following, and sometimes even anticipa- ting changes to the global market, AFCOT evolved, amending its articles of asso- ciation when necessary and regulating various aspects of the national and inter- national cotton trade. The definitive text of the ‘Nouveau Règle- ment Général du Havre’ was ratified at the Extraordinary General Meeting on 6 July 1960. For five years, several people worked to produce the document, inclu- ding Jean Lacoin, Maurice Thieullent and Jacques Reinhart. Several amendments were then made to these general regulations to reflect chan- ging practices in the global trade. It evolved constantly to become the Euro- pean Cotton Rules (ECR) in 2006. Yesterday as today, AFCOT’s primary role is to serve, represent and protect the inte- rests of cotton professionals, irrespective of the company’s size, area of activity or location. We know that defending the industry’s interests means following good business practice, to which our organization is fully committed. Although a lot of hard work is required as the challenges remain ongoing, it is essen- tial to maintain a climate of confidence, which is a sign of successful affairs to all. Docks du Pont Rouge avant la Seconde guerre mondiale