INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
CM Attend ‘Textile Leadership Conclave 2023’: The Textile Leadership Conclave organised by the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce (GCCI). On this occasion CM also launched an E-Directory providing details of textile industries and allied industries across the state on a single platform. Chief Minister expressed to keep the entire textile industry of Gujarat as a leader in contribution to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s determination to make India a global textile hub. In this regard, CM said that 30% of the total cotton production of the country is produced in Gujarat. Not only this, Gujarat contributes more than 25% percent in technical textiles. He lauded this approach where the list and contacts of around eight thousand such industries are available on a single platform. During his address CM said, “Under the direction of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Gujarat has become the state of first choice of investment for investors from home and abroad with the success of Vibrant Summit along with its reputation as a Policy Driven State”. He also added that as a result of such encouraging policies and business friendly environment, Gujarat contributes more than 8% to the country’s GDP and more than 18% to the industrial output. The Chief Minister also said on this occasion that the state government will be with the textile industries for the favourable environment and advanced facilities of the PM Mitra Textile Park. Expressing his confidence that this Textile Leadership Conclave will be a catalyst for the immortality of the textile industry, the CM gave a motivational call to the business-industry-society-government to work together in building a Self-Reliant Gujarat for a Self-Reliant India. On this occasion Additional Chief Secretary of Industries Department Shri S.J. Haider, GCCI Chairman Shri Pathik Patwari, Vice Chairman Shri Yogesh Parikh, Assocham, representatives of Textile Task Force, Chairman of Maskti Mahajan Market Shri Chintan Thacker and 78 representatives of 40 associations from states including Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu had joined. Source: Information Department, Gujarat
Source: CMO Gujarat
The Minister of State for Textiles Darshana Jardosh informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply that the Central Government has approved 64 applications under the Production Linked Incentive scheme for Textiles. It is worth-mentioning that the textile industry provides direct employment to around 45 million people in the country. Moreover, 5 Research Extension Centres are functioning to assist sericulture farmers by disseminating technology & innovations. The Centre approved the PLI Scheme for textiles with an approved outlay of Rs.10,683 crore over a five year period to promote production of MMF apparel, MMF fabrics and products of technical textiles in the country to enable textiles industry to achieve size and scale and to become competitive. The minister informed that the financial Year 2022-23 and 2023-24 are gestation periods under the PLI scheme for textiles and performance years will commence from financial year 2024-25 to 2028-29. The government has approved 64 applications out of 67 applications received. In the approved 64 applications, the proposed total investment is Rs.19,798 crore and projected turnover of Rs. 1,93,926 crore with a proposed employment of 2,45,362. A total of 12 companies have proposed to set-up projects under the said scheme in Madhya Pradesh, 7 companies in Uttar Pradesh and 4 companies in Rajasthan. There is no proposed project to be set-up in Odisha. In the meantime, to assist the sericulture farmers, the Centre has set up 35 Research Extension Centres. The Minister of State for Textiles said that these 35 centres are functioning under research institutes of Central Silk Board (CSB) to assist sericulture farmers by disseminating technology & innovations of CSB with the help of R&D institutes at the field level with the support of state sericulture departments.
Source: News on Air
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday (local time) while speaking at the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE) on Free Trade Agreements in Washington said that FTAs are being signed in a much "faster" way nowadays and also informed that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations are "going on as we speak." This confirmation comes at a time when a recent report suggested that the FTA talks between the two countries are suspended over the UK's failure to denounce vandalism by Khalistsupporters outside the Indian High Commission in London last month. "Free Trade Agreements are being signed in a much faster way nowadays. We've just concluded one with Australia. Earlier we concluded with UAE, Mauritius and with ASEAN. We have extended quota-free and tariff-free regime to Least Developed Countries," the Finance Minister said. Speaking on India's wish to pursue trade with multilateral groups, she said, "I think India has shown very clearly its initiative is working out well in pursuing with countries and agreeing to have FTA with them. We've had agreements with ASEAN, free trade agreements both in goods and services with ASEAN, we have had with Korea, with Japan. So free trade agreements have bilaterally or with multilateral groups been the route which India has had till before 2014 and now between 2019 and today, we've had at least three major agreements signed. So, we shall proceed in that route, with the United Kingdom, the European Union, and Canada. All three are happening now as we speak, the negotiations are going on. So we shall go in those preferential routes." Earlier today India dismissed as "baseless" reports in British media stating that it had halted talks for a free trade agreement with the United Kingdom over the attack on the Indian high commission in London last month, government sources said on Monday. London-based newspaper The Times in its April 10 edition citing senior British government sources reported that the Indian government has "disengaged" from trade talks and made it clear that there would be no progress "without a public condemnation of the Khalistan movement." The India-UK Free Trade Agreement talks were launched on June 17, 2022. Sitharaman further urged World Trade Organisation (WTO) to bring transparency in terms of moratorium. "WTO should be more open about issues. WTO has to be progressive and fair to all members. It has to give voice to all and not just hear but also heed. There's a continuation of a moratorium since 1998 on electronic transmissions despite evolution to digital age. Shouldn't there be a change in WTO policy in terms of moratorium? We don't have to reverse benefits of globalisation but make it more transparent," she added. Sitharaman said that India is poised for a more important role in the global value chains. youth and large domestic market," she added. The Finance Minister further stated that India's growth is sustainable as it attempts to grow its manufacturing sector and not import products that it manufactures. "Catering to the domestic markets became attractive due to the Phased Manufacturing Programme (PMP)," she said. "India needs to have resilient value chains come to India for which we came up with Production Linked Incentives (PLI)schemes so that those supply chains can thrive in domestic as well as int'l markets. We've incentivised production so that goods produced in India are consumed in India as well as exported to other countries," she added. PLI Scheme has helped increase India's mobile manufacturing capacity, which was almost nil in 2014 and today, India is the second largest manufacturer of smartphones. PLI schemes for 13 sunrise sectors are bringing global value chains into India. Sitharaman also interacted with business leaders and investors. "Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman interacts during a roundtable meeting on the "Investment opportunities for the long term: India on the Rise" with business leaders and investors, co-hosted by @FollowCII and @USIBC, in @USChamber, Washington DC, today," tweeted Ministry of Finance. Indian Ambassador to the US, Taranjit Singh Sandhu accompanied Sitharaman an Executive Roundtable hosted by US-India Business Council (USIBC) "India on the Rise! Accompanied Finance Minister [?]@nsitharaman for an Executive Roundtable hosted by @USIBC & [?]@FollowCII with a number of leading companies across key sectors. Tremendous energy in the India US economic partnership!" tweeted Sandhu.
Source: Economic Times
As the foremost national trade policy document, the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 must explicitly underline enabling support measures for women entrepreneurs as a key pathway to achieve the $2-trillion export target in both the vision and policy strategy. The participation of women is crucial to achieve this target and would be an important element of the agenda for women led development. The approach of the FTP 2023, as outlined in the Foreword by the Commerce and Industry Minister is to “gradually move away from the incentive-based regime and create an enabling ecosystem”. In this context, as with MSMEs, an actively affirmative strategy of gender mainstreaming across all the composite elements of the FTP is vital to encourage women entrepreneurs to expand their markets and trade internationally. In relation to their male counterparts, women entrepreneurs pursuing foreign markets have difficulty in becoming a part of established distribution networks, face more obstacles with regard to logistics, regulatory and procedural compliance and are at a higher risk in facing corruption and harassment.
Recognise importance of women in the FTP Just as MSMEs have been explicitly identified for focussed interventions to boost exports the forthcoming FTP Statement that usually follows the release of the FTP should highlight women exporters as a clear category for attention in trade facilitation, ease of doing business, integration in global value chains and facilitating e-commerce exports. By bringing support for women to the forefront of the country’s national trade agenda, the FTP Statement can send a strong positive signal of the government’s overall commitment to gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
Include women as a distinct category in support programs and schemes In the specific support programs and schemes, provisions for women can take the form of waiving off part or full application fees for mandatory compliances such as IEC registration; shorter timelines for processing of various applications; lower threshold for women in the schemes based on annual turnover categorisation; higher percentage of financial support in the assistance schemes etc. For example, an important highlight of the FTP 2023 is the re-calibration of status recognition norms in the “Status Holder Certificate System” to enable more exporting firms to achieve 4 and 5-star ratings. The status categories are assigned on the basis of export performance and also provide several benefits to ‘Status Holders’ including exemptions from bank guarantee requirement for availing schemes under the FTP and prioritisation during custom clearance processes. It is recommended that the ‘Export Performance Threshold’ for grant of status holder in all categories be relaxed further for women-owned enterprises. Further the category of women-owned enterprises should be included as a separate category for calculation of export performance for grant of status. Similarly, while the Market Access Initiative (MAI) scheme does recognise women as one of the priority beneficiaries, it would be more useful if a definite percentage of the earmarked funds are available for women applicants Given that the majority of women MSMEs are micro firms, there is also a strong case for increasing the value limit for exports through courier service for women per consignment. Also, relaxation in the applicable costs for availing the facilities provided by E-Commerce Export Hubs can be a great help to the women owned businesses.
Actively consult with women stakeholders Regular consultation and engagement with women business associations is vital for informed policy making and impact assessment especially in the context of the core principles ‘trust’ and ‘partnership’ enunciated in FTP 2023. We recommend the setting up of a dedicated outreach and monitoring cell in the Ministry of Commerce to undertake active consultations with women entrepreneurs to consider the different priorities and needs of women, especially those that are traditionally excluded from decision-making processes. This will ensure the participation of women in the policymaking process, enable their voices to be heard with regard to the various policies and programmes and accordingly enable a more equitable distribution of resources and improved service delivery.
Compile gender disaggregated data Collection of gender disaggregated data is another widely recognised issue in gender mainstreaming in trade policy. Such data is a pre-requisite for effectively assessing and addressing the inequalities and impediments faced by women in trade. The FTP 2023 points out that continuous efforts are being made for better collection, compilation and wider dissemination of Trade Data and Statistics to help the policy makers, researchers, exporters and importers to formulate their trade strategy. However, the need to collect genderdisaggregated trade data isn’t addressed. The FTP 2003 should mandate the collection of gender-disaggregated statistics on women’s participation in trade as well as impact assessment of the various government schemes and initiatives
Set up Inter-Ministerial Committee for trade related grievances of women entrepreneurs The FTP 2023 provides for an Inter-Ministerial Committee to be set up to examine MSME trade related grievances which have policy ramifications. This will expedite decision making with a ‘whole of government approach’. This approach could be replicated to solve problems faced by women exporters, steer coordinated support to women entrepreneurs and mainstream gender in the ‘whole-of-government’ approach. Nisha Taneja is Professor, Sanjana Joshi, senior consultant and Pawani Dasgupta, research associate, at ICRIER.
Source: Economic Times
Securing a Geographical Indication (GI) tag for a product in itself may not be enough to guarantee better prices or a protected market for it, top officials of the Textiles Committee, Government of India, said on Monday, emphasising the role of strong post-GI registration activities in this regard. Obtaining the registration forms only the first step, Tapan Kumar Rout, director (market research), Textiles Committee and S. P. Verma, secretary, Textiles Committee, told The Hindu on the sidelines of a workshop organised by the committee and National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on ‘IPR protection of unique products through GI and post-GI initiatives.’ ‘’The post-GI initiatives are more important. You need to register producers as authorised users, train them to use GI as an instrument for marketing the product, build the brand and logo,’‘ Mr. Rout said.
Balaramapuram sarees Mr. Verma cited the example of Balaramapuram sarees and fine cotton fabrics which won GI registration in 2009, but failed to reap the benefits due to poor postregistration initiatives. This also led to cheap replicas emerging from places such as Surat, he said. Despite the product bagging the GI tag, no producer had got themselves registered as authorised users. Ideally, after securing the registration, the weavers, weavers’ societies or the related State agencies should have facilitated it so that they were able to benefit from the global recognition for the product. ‘‘Now, with the help of NABARD, one company has taken up this task,’‘ Mr. Verma said. Developing a story-line for the product, so that they connect better with the consumer, and product differentiation are equally vital for positioning the products, Mr. Verma said. The Committee has so far helped secure GI registration for 63 products, and another 40 products are in the queue for the GI tag. It has inked an agreement with the NABARD for securing the registration for 30 products from seven States as part of a national drive to showcase, protect and tap the potential of traditional and ethnic craft and products. The committee officials urged the Kerala government to identify and list more products for GI registration.
Source: The Hindu
Denim manufacturers now understand that there is a growing market for ethical and ecological goods due to increased consumer awareness. Fashion brands now demonstrate that they are actually changing their methods to be more environmentally friendly and ethical. It is no longer enough for them to simply state their intentions. By incorporating sustainable innovation, the denim industry can improve its environmental performance while also ensuring its long-term profitability and growth.
Here are a few ways through which the two complement each other:
Eco-friendly dyeing techniques The conventional methods of denim dyeing have a significant environmental impact due to the use of toxic chemicals and extensive water consumption. However, technological advancements have made it possible to use ecofriendly dyeing techniques such as E-Soft, Ozone/G2, Cold-Eco Dyeing, and laser to reduce the carbon footprint of denim production.
Embracing circular design approach The circular design approach emphasizes utilizing existing resources to create new products, which goes beyond traditional linear design models. Therefore, denim designers and manufacturers seek to design with circularity in mind by implementing closed-loop production cycles that can reduce waste and minimize resource usage.
Use sustainable materials Use sustainable materials like organic cotton, recycled cotton, and recycled polyester to reduce the environmental impact of denim.
Use of solar water heaters and energy-effi cient lights The use of solar water heaters and energy-efficient lights in the denim factory during production is a sustainable method that can significantly reduce the environmental impact of textile manufacturing. Denim production requires a considerable amount of energy to power machinery, lighting, and heating, resulting in high energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. To address this issue, implementing solar water heaters can reduce the amount of energy required for heating water.
Installing an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) technology Installing an Effluent Treatment Plant (ETP) technology in denim production is a highly sustainable method that can significantly reduce the environmental impact of textile manufacturing. Denim production involves the use of significant amounts of water, chemicals, and energy, which ultimately results in the generation of highly polluting effluents that must be treated before being discharged into the environment. Implementing ETP technology in denim production involves setting up a special system that collects all the wastewater generated during production, treating it, and releasing it to the environment in such a way that ensures that it meets specific regulatory guidelines on wastewater discharge.
Collaboration in sustainability Collaboration between denim companies and suppliers, industry initiatives, other industries, and relevant organizations helps to drive sustainable innovation. Partnerships with innovative companies focusing on sustainability with particular expertise in reducing environmental footprints can facilitate the development of new sustainable solutions for the denim industry.
Source: Financial Express
India, 10th April, 2023: India ITME Society announces ITME AFRICA & M.E. 2023 - a unique and exclusive business event with the theme “Prosperity through Textile Technology & Engineering." The 2nd edition ITME Africa & M.E. is to be held from 30th Nov – 2nd December 2023, at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi, Kenya. In ways, both subtle and obvious, textiles made our world. It is the right tool for livelihood, prosperity, and creativity for both genders across cultures and geography, weaving cultures, communities, and nations together. That’s the base for ITME Africa & M.E. 2023 - A signature event by the India ITME Society. Not just creating business, but harmony and prosperity together. ITME Africa & M.E. 2023 is a catalyst striving to transform the textile industry of Africa & Middle East in the coming decades by opening up unlimited opportunities for business, sourcing, collaboration, and investment in the Textiles, Textile Engineering, Ancillary & Allied Industries.
Why Africa, Why Kenya? Despite an enormous untapped potential for trade expansion with Africa & M.E, presently trade with these regions is limited to certain sectors only. There is enormous potential & opportunity and this is the right time and right phase. India, today is the 2nd largest Textile industry globally and has a strong base in Textile engineering having indigenous companies as well as multinational manufacturing in India. Thus India is well-positioned as a partner to improve the production and export capacities of the emerging Textile Industry of Africa & M.E. With the growing importance of South-South cooperation, India’s expertise can be leveraged to build the textile industry in Africa through the sharing of knowledge and technology. Along with promoting trade, and investment, creating a business-friendly environment and vibrant private sector, this exhibition focuses on working in partnership with the government, business community, and other stakeholders. This unique and exclusive business facilitator shall open up an entire continent of new opportunities facilitating business connections with Ethiopia, Botswana, Egypt, Kenya, South Africa, Jordan, Burundi, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Djibouti, Eritrea, and other Countries in the Middle East. With over 80 years of development and the fastest-growing economy with growing Textile Technology in the African continent, Kenya is on the right path to becoming Africa’s Textile and Apparel Hub. Kenya is a major country of the African Union & prominent member of AFTA, Nairobi, the capital of Kenya shall be the apt city to host this international business & technology event in December 2023, thus facilitating access to Textile Technology, Skill development opportunities, Technology transfer for the whole of the continent. With this, it shall strengthen its position as a pioneer in the modernization of its textile industry and position itself as a pivot for Textile technology upgradation for Africa & M.E focusing on new chapters such as Cotton Seed & Cotton Farming Technology & Equipment, Machinery related to Engineering Products, Home Textile Products Associated Goods and Services for Textile Industry Technical Information Services, Educational Research Institutes & COEs. Online bookings open from 3rd April 2023 at 1300 hrs (IST), India ITME Society welcomes you to the 2nd Series of the strategic International business event ITME Africa & M.E. 2023.
Source: Live Mint
Seven ethnic products from Kerala feature on a list of 30 that the Textiles Committee, Government of India, and the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) have picked for Geographical Indication (GI) registration. Kerala has the most number of products on the list — bell metal craftwork of Mannar, straw picture craft of Kollam, woodware craft of Cherpu, Kora grass mats of Killimangalam, leather puppets of Shoranur, Nettipattam, and Kannadippaya (bamboo mirror mats) of Idukki.
Workshop on IPR protection On Monday, the committee and NABARD jointly organised a workshop, ‘IPR protection of unique products through GI and post-GI initiatives’ to raise awareness among artisans, weavers, government agencies, and the public. The GI applications of two products on the list — bell metal works of Mannar and the Killimangalam Kora grass mats — were signed. For these two products, a painstaking official process will follow before they make their way into the GI registry. The official process was expected to take over a year, Textiles Committee officials said. The committee and NABARD picked the 30 products from seven States. The collaboration between the two agencies is expected to facilitate GI tagging for more products in future.
Enhances marketability NABARD chairman Shaji K.V., who inaugurated the workshop, underscored the need for raising awareness of GI registration for enhancing the marketability of the products. Registration was also important for protecting products unique to a region from being copied illegally, he said. Mr. Shaji also called for a strong, unified campaign by State government agencies for encouraging artisans and weavers to apply for GI tagging.
Only 465 on list so far Textiles Committee secretary S.P. Verma pointed out that countries a fraction of the size of India had hundreds of products registered, while India had only around 465 on the list. ‘‘If we do not get them registered, we will be losing a big market,’‘ he said. GIregistration helped the artisans, weavers and craftsmen fetch better prices for their products, in addition to showcasing the country’s unique heritage before the world, he said. A ‘‘structured programme’‘ was needed for the post-GI registration promotion of products in the export market, said K.S. Anil Kumar, managing director, Handicrafts Development Corporation of Kerala Ltd., and Director of Handloom and Textiles, Kerala. NABARD CGMs Devasis Padhi and Gopakumaran Nair G.; Tapan Kumar Rout, director (market research), Textiles Committee; and Sree Kumar R., sub-convener, State-Level Bankers Committee, were present.
Source: The Hindu
Kenya’s textile industry will be hit hard following a proposal by the East African Sectoral Council on trade to move tax paid on imported apparel to the highest band in order to spur local production. The council, which is an apex organ for investment and trade in the region, wants the duty levied on textiles under the Common External Tariff (CET) to be moved to 35 percent –the highest tax band under the EAC. The council says the move is aimed at promoting production of cotton within the region and cutting overreliance on imports, which has hindered development of the sector in the regional. (/bd) Workers make garments at Rivatex East Africa Limited in Eldoret town, Uasin Gishu on September 09, 2021. NMG PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA Search We use Kenya produces less than 12 million square metres of woven fabric per year, against a market demand of approximately 171 million square metres, making the country a net importer of both cotton and textile. “The Sectoral Council made proposals on textile and textile articles to be moved to maximum band to stimulate local production,” said the council during its 38th extraordinary meeting held in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. Currently, finished goods imported into the regional bloc attract a duty of 25 percent, intermediate goods (10 percent) and raw materials (0 percent) under the EAC’s existing three-band tariff structure, which came into effect on January 1, 2005. The ministers also want expansion of the harmonised cotton, textiles and apparels articles under duty remission in order to enhance trade among the member States. As such, the council wants the member states to establish a digital platform to support exchange information on the harvesting of cotton and trade of cotton lint in order to increase the intra- EAC trade on the products. As part of promotion of Buy East Africa Build East Africa (BEABEA), the meeting encouraged the partner states to adopt the use of traditional / folklore wear as government dresses for official events. Kenya has already encouraged civil servants to dress African attires on Fridays as a way of boosting the textile industry. However, the directive is yet to pick. In 2020, former President Uhuru Kenyatta re-commissioned Rivatex company to promote the production of locally made products using cotton that has been produced by the local farmers. Cotton output has been falling in the country since the 1980s with Kenya relying on imports to bridge the deficit. The extraordinary regional meeting also called for modalities of developing a leather industrial park with common effluent treatment in the region to boost the leather industry that is still lagging behind. The council said EAC member States should take steps to expand manufacturing whose contribution to GDP has weakened over the years and trails the set targets.
Source: Business daily Africa
Indian authorities on Monday dismissed reports that India-UK trade talks have been stalled over the recent attacks involving pro-Khalistan groups in London. According to British media reports, New Delhi has stalled negotiations with the UK over a free trade agreement (FTA) as it wants tougher action against these groups behind the attack on the Indian High Commission in London last month. “The report is baseless,” an Indian government source said in New Delhi. The next round of official negotiations is likely to take place from April 24 in London, the source added. ‘The Times’ newspaper referenced senior British government sources to claim that the Indian government has “disengaged” from trade talks, which opened in January last year, and made it clear that there would be no progress without a public condemnation of the pro-Khalistan extremist groups behind the pulling down of the Tricolour at India House in London and injuring two officials on March 19. While the UK government has since condemned the attack and promised a security review at the diplomatic mission, the Indian authorities reportedly want the action to go further to publicly condemn the separatist extremists. “India has said they don’t want to speak about trade, they don’t want to do trade negotiations because they think it’s part of a wider problem of us not taking the attack against the Indian High Commission and the wider Sikh separatist movement seriously,” the newspaper quoted a UK government source as saying “Indians don’t want to talk about trade until they get a very public demonstration of condemnation of Khalistan extremism in the UK. I wouldn’t underestimate the strength of feeling on this. They’re expecting the government to say something on Sikh extremism before they come back to the table seriously,” the source said.
Source: Financial express
The rupee was trading in a narrow range in morning trade on Tuesday as the bullishness of positive domestic equities and weak American dollar was negated by firm crude oil prices. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 81.96 against the dollar. It touched an early low of 82.09 in initial deals. The rupee on Monday settled at 81.99 against the US dollar. Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading at 102.35, down 0.22 per cent. Global oil benchmark Brent crude futures advanced 0.64 per cent to USD 84.72 The rupee has been floating well between a tight range of 81.80-82.20 awaiting to set the tone post the US and domestic CPI release, said CR Forex Advisors MD Amit Pabari. All eyes are on the release of inflation data in India and the US, along with the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes, which will now become crucial in determining the market trend. "The undertone of the market seems to remain positive on the expectation of a healthy Q4 earning season. Also, NTPC set to raise Rs 3,000 crores via bond issue could invite some foreign bids and extend short-lived gains to the rupee," Pabari said. On the domestic equity market front, BSE Sensex was trading 277.59 points or 0.46 per cent higher at 60,124.10, while the broader NSE Nifty advanced 85.90 points or 0.49 per cent to 17,709.95. Foreign institutional investors were net buyers in the capital market on Monday as they purchased shares worth Rs 882.52 crore, as per exchange data.
Source: Economic Times
INTERNATIONAL
Bangladesh has formed two separate committees — Advisory Committee by Senior Commerce Secretary Tapan Kanti Ghosh and the negotiation committee headed by Additional Secretary to the Commerce Ministry Noor Mahbubul Haque — to start negotiations with India over signing of a proposed Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement or CEPA with India, with a view to boost bilateral trade and investment in the postLDC period. The formal negotiation of the CEPA was supposed to be launched a few months ago but had to be put on hold for some time as the Indian side wanted to further examine a joint study, as per Tapan Kanti Ghosh, who claimed the negotiations will start soon even as the new date, to this end, will be finalised in consultation with both countries. As per the Senior Commerce Secretary, the signing of the CEPA with India is a part of Bangladesh’s preparation to face the challenges of the LDC graduation in 2026 even if owing to the status graduation to a developing country, Bangladesh is set to lose its preferential trade benefits.
Source: Apparel resources
The Tiruppur Exporters’ Association proposed changes to the Tamil Nadu Textile Policy 2019 that included the establishment of a knitwear research institute in Tiruppur and a cargo terminal with international connection at the Coimbatore airport. K.M. Subramanian, the association president, urged the state government to address issues like housing for labour, raising the overtime cap for the apparel sector, upskilling current employees, transportation subsidies to transport workers to factories, bank Basel norms, and NPA classification in a meeting with the state textiles commissioner. In addition to the State government capital subsidy, he encouraged the government to establish a licencing system for utilising the ATUF programme subsidy. In the Tirupur Cluster, there are 1,213 exporting units owned by the TEA. Six lakh people are employed directly by the Tirupur Knitwear Cluster, 60 per cent of whom are women, in addition to another two lakh people who are employed indirectly. The value of exports of knitwear and wovens from Tamil Nadu stood at Rs 38,000 crore in 2021–2022 and is expected to reach Rs 50,000 crore in the next two to three years. 21 per cent of the state’s total exports of goods were ready-made clothing (knitwear and woven garments). According to the association, a knitwear research institute in Tiruppur will aid in the swift expansion of the sector and exports, much how the Central Leather Research Institute in Chennai helps to product development and innovation for the industry. “Considering the exports and movement of passengers from this region, we request the Tamil Nadu government to offer international carrier connections in Tiruppur,” it said. Since the garment industry relies heavily on labour, a severe lack of skilled workers poses the single biggest challenge to its expansion, particularly in labor-intensive clusters like Tiruppur. One of the obstacles to labourers’ permanent transfer from their home villages to industrial clusters would be removed if housing and dormitories for workers were built in clusters like Tiruppur.The Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation has received a project proposal for an estimated Rs 20.57 crore that would upskill 50,000 current employees in a year.
Source: Apparel resources
The Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), which is the body of the textile mill owners in the country, has sought an interim restriction on import of cotton yarns for the readymade garment (RMG) industry even as they cited stockpiles of the same in various mills of the country to press home their point. According to reports, in a letter written to the Governor of Bangladesh Bank (central bank) Abdur Rouf Talukder, BTMA President Mohammad Ali Khokon made this request while underlining such a move (temporary suspension on the import of cotton yarns) will help to retain the foreign currency even as the BTMA also demanded issuing an interim instruction to the export-oriented readymade garment factories to procure at least 70 per cent of their total cotton yarn requirement from the local spinning mills under back-toback letters of credit. The mill owners’ body further reportedly held if the central bank introduces such policy, it will help Bangladesh face the issue of dollar crisis and at the same time the local spinning mills would get rid of liquidity crisis caused by yarn stockpiles.
Source: Apparel resources
AB Card Clothing Pvt. Ltd., member of Ashton group, an innovative manufacturer of precision components will show its products at ITMA, Milan, Stand No. E113, Hall No. H1 from June 8th to 14th, 2023. ABCC aims to reduce costs and improve productivity by quality & cost effective products. Felting Needles for non woven needle punching machines. Metallic Card Clothing for non woven, woolen, worsted, semi-worsted, waste opening, recycling, garneting, etc. Flexible Card Clothing for carding wools, synthetics, cotton and blends. Raising/Brushing Fillets for fabric finishing. Other products from group companies: Synthetic Condenser Rubbing Aprons for wool, recycled, synthetic cotton waste etc. Condenser Tapes – Web diving tapes having synthetic & natural leather for wool, synthetic, cotton & blends etc. Plain / Spiked Lattice Conveyors – Fibre, web & cross lapping conveyors in various Combination & Permutations in wood, plastic, aluminium, PVC & PU. Leather / Rubber Nylon Sandwich Belts & Spindle Tapes Wooden / Aluminium Lags With Pins for rag tearing & waste opening Doffer Comb Blades PU Round Belts Combing Aprons & Leather Aprons Contact persons will be available Ashwani Bindal & Rohan Bindal at the booth.
Source: Textile World
