“And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” – 2 Corinthians 9:8
West Indian Sea Island Cotton (WISIC) is a Caribbean gem renowned for its long staple length, unparalleled tensile strength, unique sheen, and incomparable softness. WISIC is coveted by luxury fashion brands around the world. Its premium qualities make it one of the most sought-after products in the luxury textile industry. Textile manufacturers who seek the best pay prices far above those of other long staple cotton varieties.
The Caribbean islands have the ideal growing conditions for this commodity. At one time, the region led the world in WISIC production. Yet, over the years, several obstacles have hindered the industry’s recovery and sustainable growth. Among these challenges are a lack of political will, weak partnerships in marketing and production, inconsistent land use policy, and static investment strategies.
In 2003, the Barbados government took steps to revive the industry by commissioning a WISIC business plan. From this plan, Exclusive Cottons of the Caribbean Inc. (ECCI) emerged as a private sector entity tasked with implementing this plan.
Here we are in 2025, and there’s renewed hope for the industry. The Barbados Minister of Agriculture and ECCI recently announced plans to breathe new life into WISIC. A new strategy, agreed upon by government and private stakeholders (presumably the shareholders of ECCI), promises revitalization. Harvesting is expected to start between February and March this year, with an aggressive initiative to increase acreage year after year.
However, sustaining and expanding the industry requires more than goodwill. It demands robust governance, strategic enterprise development, innovation, creative financing and a long-term commitment to quality assurance.
I humbly suggest that as part of the Minister’s and ECCI’s renewed efforts, a review of the objectives of the 2003 plan be undertaken. Alongside this, an assessment of why the industry has failed to grow over the past 22 years must be made, and corrective measures should be implemented before moving ahead with a new initiative.
Key areas of the assessment should examine the context of political will, smart partnerships in marketing, production and finance, inconsistent land use and outdated investment policies.
The Minister’s recent pronouncements suggest positive political will for the industry’s resurgence—an encouraging start.
Equally important will be establishing smart partnerships—collaborating with farmers, harvesters, textile manufacturers and international buyers. The preservation and expert management of planting material will also be critical for long-term success.
From my perspective, one lesson from past efforts is that WISIC must be managed with a business mindset, ensuring that production remains consistent and scalable. A structured governance approach, such as managing the industry under a Trust rather than a private sector entity, can create stability in this area.
A Trust would safeguard the interests of Barbados by ensuring that this Caribbean gem’s value chain—from cultivation, harvesting, ginning, lint storage, textile production to international sales—is well-coordinated.
Financing would be another vital component. A dedicated, innovative Equity Growth Fund, mobilizing local savings by government incentives, can provide the much-needed capital to modernize production techniques, expand cultivation acreage and support research into best practices tailored to the Caribbean climate for sustainable cotton cultivation.
Looking ahead, 2025 presents an opportunity to try again in Barbados—this time with an even more refined strategy. There is strong demand from Italian buyers for this prized product. What is needed now is the collective will to rise to the occasion and capitalize on this unique asset. The time to act is now.
(Dr. Basil Springer GCM is a corporate governance adviser. His email address is basilgf@marketplaceexcellence.com. His columns may be found at https://www.nothingbeatsbusiness.com).