INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
The commerce ministry has called a meeting of exporters on Monday to take stock of the situation, as the country's outbound shipments have been contracting for the last four months, an official said. Exporters are expected to flag issues like extending greater support to participate in global exhibitions and fairs; expediting negotiations to conclude free trade agreements with the UK, Canada, Israel and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council); and allowing industry double weighted deduction on salary to professionals to retain talent in India. Exports declined for the fourth-consecutive month by 10.3% year-on-year to $34.98 billion in May, while the trade deficit widened to a five-month high of $22.12 billion, according to the ministry data. Cumulatively, exports during April-May this fiscal contracted by 11.41% to $69.72 billion, while imports declined 10.24% to $107 billion. Demand slowdown in major markets, high inflation in developed economies and the Russia-Ukraine war are impacting the country's exports. Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Chairman Naren Goenka said greater support measures from the government, such as for attending global exhibitions, would help in pushing exports.
Source: Economic Times
Welspun India Ltd (WIL), a global leader in home textiles and part of the $ 2.3 billion Welspun Group is expecting over two-fold rise in its domestic business from around Rs 650 crore last year to around Rs 2,200 crore by 2026, owing to the rise in demand in the Indian market and a better-performing economy. The company which claims to be producing every fifth towel in the United States at present and also holding a major market in Europe, was hit by a dip in demand due to the economic issues in these regions last year. During the last financial year, the company’s income dipped by around 12 per cent to Rs 8,215 crore from Rs 9,377 crore in 2021-22. From around 8 per cent now, the company is targeting to increase the share of India in the topline to around 12-15 per cent by 2026. “Last year, the whole world was going through turmoil. In terms of commodities, cotton prices went up over 100 per cent, and the container crisis and freight disruption also happened. Now, the whole correction is happening and it started in the fourth quarter of last fiscal. This year, Q1 and Q2 will be a little better. If we talk about the US economy, it expanded by 2 per cent and inflation is down at 5 per cent, the lowest in the past 22 months. Definitely, we see that all easing out,” said Dipali Goenka, chief executive officer and managing director, Welspun India. However, it is at this time that the Indian market is turning out to be the bright spot for the company. The company clocked a growth of around 30 per cent last year in the domestic market and did around Rs 550 crore in home textiles, while its flooring business clocked another Rs 100 crore, taking the total domestic sales to around Rs 650 crore. “Definitely, India will continue to grow. Our emerging businesses are also doing well in India. We expect India business to touch around d Rs 2,200 crore by 2026 is where our domestic business is going to be from around Rs 650 crore last year,” Goenka added. Other than India, the regions that the company is betting big on are Australia, South East Asia and West Asia. The growth in the Indian market will be driven by the company strategy of ‘Har Ghar se Har Dil Tak Welspun’. At present, 31 per cent of the global share of home textiles is coming from the US, 34 per cent from Europe and 35 per cent from the rest of the world. From around $49 billion now, the size of the global home textile market is expected to touch $60 billion by 2025. The Indian home textile market is around $7 billion now. “It is expected to touch $10 billion in the next four years. Home textiles are having a mixed bag of products and all will depend on the demand increase in the Indian market,” she added.
Source: Business-Standard
A number of textile organisations in Surat, including the Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry (FIASWI), have spoken out against the upcoming implementation of Quality Control Orders (QCO) for Bureau of Indian Standard (BIS) certification on different Polyester Yarn. These orders, which are slated to go into effect on 3rd July 2023, have been requested to be removed by the industry associations. In a letter to Rachna Shah, the Government of India’s Textile Secretary, and J K Gupta, Head of Specifications (Textiles) at BIS, FIASWI emphasised the need to change any unworkable aspects in the current regulations. Polyester yarn, in the opinion of FIASWI, is largely used as an industrial raw material, and buyers and consumers are already well-informed about their particular needs for the kind of yarn required to produce fabric. Furthermore, according to FIASWI, the lack of high-quality yarn on the global market could lead to unfair business practises among domestic yarn producers. Since December 2021, a large number of foreign producers have reportedly submitted applications for BIS certification. However, there has been no advancement in the BIS authorities visiting their plants for inspection as of yet. Due to the certification process’s delay, there is now a sizable discrepancy between the supply and demand for Polyester Fully Drawn Yarn (FDY). In response to these worries, Bharat Gandhi, the chairman of FIASWI, has suggested creating a special email address for registering complaints about the supply of yarn that doesn’t meet BIS criteria. Additionally, he has urged for mechanisms to cover the losses suffered by user industries as a result of the supply of subpar yarn. The implementation of QCO orders will limit the import of Specialty Polyester Yarns, which are required for numerous applications but are not produced in India. The importation of raw materials like ITY/BSY yarns, which are used to make Burak fabrics, Mechanical Stretch Yarns, CEY Yarns, which are used to make stretch fabrics, and Polyester Low Melt Yarn, which is frequently used in the uppers of shoes, is no longer allowed. Indian manufacturers and exporters of these specialised yarns have expressed an interest in becoming BIS certified. However, the BIS Department’s inaction in failing to inspect these factories has hampered their quest for certification.
Source: Apparel Resources
Punjab Agriculture Minister Gurmeet Singh Khuddian on Sunday directed all the staff of his department to visit fields in the next few days and communicate directly with farmers in order to prevent the spread of the pink bollworm in the cotton fields. As per recommendations of experts, the possible risk of pink bollworm attack could be avoided, he said.Khuddian visited Dangarkhera village, 8 km from Abohar, to take stock of the cotton crop. He discussed the prevailing situation with farmers. He also held a meeting with the staff of the Agriculture Department.Gurwinder Singh, Director, Agriculture Department, SDM Nikas Khichar, Jangir Singh Gill, Chief Agriculture Officer, Amandeep Singh “Goldy” Musafir, Balluana MLA, and others were present at the meeting. The minister also visited Jodhpur village and Abohar. The minister assured farmers that strict action would be taken against anyone found selling substandard insecticides and fertilisers. He instructed officials of the department to ensure that quality fertilisers, insecticides and pesticides were sold to farmers. He said no one would sell products to farmers that were not recommended by the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). Khuddian asked farmers to take up ancillary businesses for which the government would provide help to them. He said blunders that the previous government had allegedly committed in distribution of grants would not be allowed. He said no grant would lapse. Khuddian congratulated farmers of Fazilka district for leading in direct sowing of paddy. He said 33 per cent subsidy had been offered on seeds. He said Rs 9 crore subsidy amount would be transferred to bank accounts of farmers.
Source: The Tribune India
Another export-quality fabric manufacturing unit is set to be established in Sircilla. Texport Industries, which had signed an MoU with the State government, is scheduled to open in August. The construction of the facility is taking place at Apparel Park situated on the outskirts of Sircilla. As part of the textile industry development, the State government is providing all the necessary infrastructure facilities and sheds for this company. Texport Industries will be the second-largest company at Apparel Park, with Green Needle Factory being the largest. Green Needle Factory exports organic cotton boxer briefs to New York in the US. Texport Industries will manufacture and export knitting fabric for men, women, and children, as well as cater to the domestic market. While its manufacturing operations are currently based in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala, they are expanding to Sircilla. Speaking to TNIE, regional deputy director of Handlooms and Textiles department, V Ashok Rao, said that once the company starts its manufacturing and exporting operations, it will provide employment to over 2,000 people. “Around 3,000 skilled workers have been trained at Sircilla Textile Park. Texport Industry’s construction is taking place on a seven-acre plot with a built-up area of 1.5 lakh square feet. The State government has provided land at Apparel Park for other fabric manufacturing units”, he added. The government is also developing a ‘worker to owner’ scheme weaving park at Peddur. Sheds are being constructed on 88 acres of land to provide weaving looms for workers in Sircilla town. Ashok said that currently, 46 sheds have been completed. He stated that the park is being developed at a cost of Rs 375 crore and it aims to provide work sheds for 1,104 weavers in the first phase. The project involves developing sheds with a total of 4,416 power looms. “The construction of the work sheds is in its final stages. Each worker will be provided with 800 square feet of space, including a storeroom. Additionally, each worker will receive four semiautomatic power looms and a winding machine. The park will also have 60 warping machines,” he added.
Source: New Indian express
In an attempt to accelerate the process of setting up of industries, the Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority (GIDA) will soon initiate the application process for allocation of 253 industrial plots in different sectors, including the plastic and readymade garment park projects among others. According to GIDA Chief Executive Officer Pawan Agrawal, the allocation process for the new plots will expedite the development of a plastic park. As per the available data, 92 plots with a total area of 2,18,859 square metre will be allotted in the plastic park located in Sector 28. The sizes of these plots range from 594 square metre to 20,764 square metre. A total of 42 plots will be available with sizes up to 1,000 square metre, 42 plots with sizes ranging from 1,001 to 4,000 square metre, five plots with sizes ranging from 4,001 to 20,000 square metre, and three plots with sizes exceeding 20,001 square metre, for which entrepreneurs/investors can submit their applications. Similarly, a total of 41 new plots will be allocated at the Garment Park in GIDA Sector 26, covering a total area of 28,340 square metre. These plots will have sizes ranging from 510 to 1,000 square metre. Besides, 120 plots will be allotted for general industries. These plots are located in four sectors, with a total area of 479,053.83 square metre. Entrepreneurs and investors can apply for 26 plots with areas ranging from 600 to 42,284.20 square metre in Sector 13, 18 plots ranging from 759 to 15,500 square metre in Sector 15, 12 plots ranging from 3,996 to 17,514 square metre in Sector 26, and 64 plots, ranging from 541 to 62,952.70 square metre in Sector 27. The entrepreneurs can apply for the plots according to their requirements. There are altogether 35 plots with an area of up to 1,000 square metre, 64 plots ranging between 1,001 to 4,000 square metre, 17 plots ranging from 4,001 to 20,000 square metre and four plots with a size exceeding 20,001 square metre. Pawan Agrawal added, “GIDA is being developed as an excellent industrial area in line with the vision of the chief minister. The process of implementing the investment proposals received at the Global Investors’ Summit in the groundbreaking ceremony is also progressing rapidly.” It is worth mentioning here that GIDA, as per the intention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is consistently enriching its land bank to ensure that investors receive land plots according to their requirements. Additionally, the process of allocating land to entrepreneurs and connecting their plots with infrastructure development is also progressing rapidly. Agrawal also mentioned that GIDA has received a target of Rs 12,500 crore for the groundbreaking ceremony. So far, approximately two-thirds of the target has been achieved. The allocation of new plots will further contribute to GIDA’s progress beyond the set goals. Small, medium, and large plots have been developed according to the needs of every investor and entrepreneur. Notably, GIDA has emerged as the preferred destination for investors over the last six years, similar to Noida, due to improved law and order situation as well as industry-friendly and transparent policies of the Yogi government. During the Global Investors’ Summit held in February, Gorakhpur received investment proposals worth Rs 1.71 lakh crore.
Source: Daily Pioneer
For the last 15 years or so, Indian merchandise exports have remained fairly stagnant. From a meagre figure of $330 bn in 2006, it has taken over 15 years for it to grow modestly to $447 bn today. That makes for just 1.8% of global trade which has maintained a healthy annual increase of 2.5-3%. This is despite the Indian GDP growing well at an average of 5% since then. Imports, meanwhile, have grown consistently and sizeably over this period. Given that trade figures are usually indicated in nominal terms (based on current price levels), a part of the uptick in exports is, in fact, contributed by inflation, and not necessarily the higher volumes of merchandise. On a more positive note, the last three years have seen an easing in the stagnation of exports. Since 2020-21, Indian exports have grown in value as well as volume and their composition is seeing a perceptible change. While the share of traditional exports such as textiles and apparel, leather goods, iron ore, minerals, light engineering goods and gems and jewellery has declined, the share of electronics, machinery, equipment, petroleum and branded drugs has increased. There has been diversification in the countries buying Indian commodities, with South Asian nations emerging as a substantive destination for India’s shipments. It would appear that the trade agreements entered into with a host of nations and regions have also begun to yield dividends. Services have come of age in our export trade. With services now accounting for $320 bn or 4% of global trade, and the fact that their labour content is more favourable, their continued growth deserves organised encouragement. Besides software, other segments holding out promise include fintech, banking and insurance services, hospitality, biotech, logistics and medical care. These are all sunrise industries with fairly high-skilled labour intensity. With our comparative advantage in wages existing virtually across the board, it is a natural corollary to build on this success and diversify into new service areas, including ecommerce-based ones. India must become more discerning when selecting goods to be accorded greater weightage in the export basket. Export of imported crude oil by way of petrol, diesel or petroleum products has low value addition. Gems and jewellery have similar dynamics with rough diamonds and gold being imported. Until the components and chips required in the assembly of mobiles are locally made, particularly for smart devices such as iPhones, benefits will continue to be patchy. For decades, India has remained a marginal player in global exports. However, we have become a substantive actor in the world of imports, especially energy, military equipment, fertilisers, machinery, plastics, APIs for pharmaceuticals, organic chemicals, diamonds and gold. With the import of expensive hi-tech military, microchips and technology, our import bill will shoot up, at least till local production takes off. To prevent the rupee from coming under greater pressure from the US dollar, a commensurate rise in export earnings is warranted. For that to happen, building competitiveness of Indian ‘exportables’ is imperative. As witnessed in China, that will occur when allround cost-cutting, highly efficient infrastructure and greater institutionalised importance is accorded to exports in the overall scheme of things.
Source: Economic Times
India’s merchandise exports have undergone a major shift in recent years. The change has been rather silent except for the occasional buzz about export of iPhones. But it is not just about Apple’s flagship product. India’s share in the global export of machinery, phones, automobiles and petroleum has grown significantly between 2015 and 2022. Meanwhile, there has been a marked decline in India’s share in its traditional export items such as gems and jewellery, apparel, meat and leather articles. Exports of textiles, clothing and made-ups, for instance, fell by about 17% y-o-y in FY2023. Is this change temporary or will this be a permanent feature of our trade order? An analysis of the data by Delhi-based trade think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) shows India’s exports in the category called electronics, telecom, mobile phone etc., jumped from $7.9 bn in 2015 to $26.6 bn in 2022 — from 0.41% share of world market to 0.71%, a 73% rise. In machinery, India’s global market share rose from 0.75% to 1.05%, a growth of 40%. The analysis for the same period lists other performing sectors such as petroleum (share in global trade went up from 1.87% in 2015 to 2.45% in 2022) and automobile and its components (from 1.11% to 1.32%).
All figures pertain to calendar year. India’s share in world merchandise export in 2022 was 1.8%. If services exports are also added, the share would go up to 2.4%. The figure is still low when compared with India’s 3% contribution to the global market cap or 3.4% share of global gross domestic product (GDP). In FY23, India’s merchandise export was $447 bn, registering a 6% rise YoY. If goods and services are combined, total exports ($770 bn in FY23) registered a healthy 13.4% rise. Meanwhile, among Indian merchandise export products, which lost glob- al market share in recent years, gems and jewellery’s down- swing has been staggering. Its share dropped from 7.4% in 2015 to 4.7% in 2022, a fall of 36% in seven years, according to GTRI’s analysis. Exports of apparel (-19%), meat (-48%) and leather (-20%) showed substantial drops in the global market. As far as pharmaceuticals are concerned, exports rose but their share in the global market dwindled.
Losing the sheen While acknowledging that the shrinking of India’s share in total gems and jewellery export has been a matter of concern, Colin Shah, MD of Kama Jewellery, tells ET that passing the Development of Enterprise and Service Hubs (DESH) Bill, now pending in Lok Sabha, is essential to get big foreign jewellers to invest in India. “Big jewellers have been moving to countries such as China, Vietnam, Indonesia and, in particular, Thailand. But they are hesitant to invest in India. Also, India has to sign several more free trade agreements (FTAs) like the one signed with the United Arab Emirates. Only then will the sector be far more competitive,” says Shah, a former chairman of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council. DESH Bill is aimed at changing the laws under the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Act of 2005, and making them more industryfriendly. According to Jayant Dasgupta, former ambassador to the World Trade Organization (WTO), jewellery made of rhodium, platinum, etc., are doing exceptionally well in the global market. As India’s strength is only in gold and diamond, he says, its share in world trade has been falling. “By and large, India’s exports have performed well in new technologies such as electronics, mobile phones as well as machinery. But in traditional sectors we are losing out. Our wages, for example in apparels sector, are on the higher side as compared with our competitors such as Bangladesh or Vietnam,” he says, adding that India is still relying too much on cotton exports when noncotton fibres (manmade fibres or MMFs) are more popular globally. Mithileshwar Thakur, secretary-general of the Apparel Export Promotion Council, is optimistic that the PM MITRA (Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel) scheme will be a game-changer as it will integrate the textile value chain and bring down logistics cost and make the sector globally competitive. “Our mantra is to upscale value chains and increase our share in winter clothing by moving towards synthetic fabrics-based apparel. We are also exploring new markets beyond the US and Europe and are developing new products,” he says. “Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for MMF fabrics and garments will attract muchneeded investment in these critical areas, and the signing of more FTAs will remove tariff disadvantage for our exports, thereby helping the sector immensely,” he adds Dasgupta points out that India needs to follow the latest global trends. “Demand for heavy leather jackets and overcoats, for instance, has been slowing down globally. People now prefer light synthetic materials. These products are generated from the petrochemical sector. We are losing out on this segment,” he says. “Also, we are weak in another popular category —sports shoes.” In leather articles, India’s exports moved up marginally from $2.4 bn in 2015 to $2.7 bn in 2022, but in terms of its share in world exports, there was a fall from 3.6% to 2.9%. Italy, the world’s biggest leather exporter, banks on high-quality branded products. Other prominent leather-exporting nations and India’s competitors include the US, Brazil and China.
Phones rock Among the categories whose share in global trade have risen in the recent past, the most prominent is ‘electronics, telecom, mobile phones and electrical equipment’. Vinod Sharma, MD of Noida-headquartered Deki Electronics, says electronics exports have been growing steadily, at 7-8% annually. “Electronics exports are now a settled business. But the real r o c k star in this category is the mobile phones and, to an extent, telecom equipment, driven by 5G technology,” says Sharma who was a chairman of the Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council of India (ESC). He adds that the industry is now emphasising a lot on green items, for example, solar inverters, which have a huge demand globally. A senior executive of the Engineering Export Promotion Council of India (EEPCIndia) says India’s export numbers are robust in machinery because all types of machines, including boilers, pumps, refrigerators as well as industrial machinery for dairy, food processing and textiles, are seeing a huge demand. The US, Germany, Thailand, China and the UAE are some of the major destinations. In the electrical machinery and components category, France is also a big buyer. “We anticipate some negative impact due to slowdown in advanced economies, particularly the US (the biggest buyer),” says the EEPC official, requesting anonymity. According to International Monetary Fund’s (IMF’s) World Economic Outlook, April 2023, the growth in the volume of world trade is expected to decline from 5.1% in 2022 to 2.4% in 2023, thus “echoing the slowdown in global demand after two years of rapid catchup growth from the pandemic recession and the shift in the composition of spending from traded goods back toward domestic services”. Clearly, this outlook is way lower than what was achieved during the two prepandemic decades (2000–2019), when it averaged 4.9%. According to the same report, the advanced economies’ import volume (goods and services combined) will decline from 6.6% in 2022 to a measly 1.8% in 2023 before rising marginally to 2.7% next year. The economic headwinds will slow down global trade. But its impact will be short lived. “In the longer term, India’s technological innovation will determine the acceptability of its products and their global market share,” says Dasgupta.
Source: Economic Times
INTERNATIONAL
Britain will discuss temporary business visas as part of Free Trade Agreement talks with India but any deal will not contain broader immigration commitments or access to Britain's labour market for Indian workers, trade minister Kemi Badenoch said. Britain launched trade talks with India in January last year, and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has stressed that he won't sacrifice quality for speed in negotiations. Last year interior minister Suella Braverman sparked a row with comments about the possible impact of Indian migrants in trade talks, citing concern both with any "open borders migration policy with India" and those who overstay visas. Badenoch set out Britain's stance in response to a question about how government ensures it "speaks with a single voice on migration and mobility in relation to a UK-India trade agreement," and avoids "disruptive "There will also be no agreement to anything which undermines the principles or functioning of the UK's points-based immigration system, or which undermines the UK's ability to control its own border." She added that the negotiations would discuss business mobility, "which would make it easier for highly skilled professionals to deliver services in each other's markets on a short-term and temporary basis." Negotiators were also exploring provisions to facilitate the mutual recognition of professional qualifications where it might be possible with regulators, she said. Badenoch has previously warned that the deal may not have everything that the services sector would want. She did not make reference to when negotiations, which have not made quick progress this year, would conclude by, saying she would update.
Source: The Financial Express
Pioneer in hi-tech sustainable textiles Meryl Fabrics, was recently invited by the Tunisian government to join key industry representatives to share an insight into its innovative fabric technologies and in-house circular economy offering. Meryl Fabrics Co-Founder Peter Broom, met with a group of insightful individuals and companies in Tunisia, including the government investment and advisory department, alongside the British Ambassador and her well-informed team with a wealth of knowledge across all industry sectors. Throughout the five-day trip, Peter explored the well-established modern textiles manufacturing sector and investigated the possibility to partner with companies as part of Meryl’s plans to upscale, bringing its CO2 and pollution-reducing technology to a broader customer base. The packed itinerary consisted of meetings with the Tunisian Federation for Textile and Clothing, leading suppliers of apparel and garments, and a visit to the Neotex Monastir Technopark. Peter Broom commented: “We are thankful to our trade body, the PCIAW for an introduction to the Tunisian government and British Ambassador; this combination of governments working together and bringing the information that points you to the right people and companies was a refreshing and remarkable initiative. “The commitment and calibre of the civil servants and politicians in Tunisia enable the region to better assist small and medium size businesses to succeed and grow into the green industry that they all talk about. It is the investment in innovation outside academia that is what sets this country apart, ensuring a broad enough reach to allow entrepreneurs and companies that are innovating to grow easily and bring these impactful products to the market, which in turn will bring additional growth to the economy. The highly skilled industry that I was given access to showed what is available, and the enthusiasm to bring new business forwards was inspiring. “We understand at Meryl Fabrics that manufacturing close to the market that we operate in reduces our impact on the environment, and seeing first-hand the active part the industry in Tunisia is playing in reducing pollution from dyeing and finishing, and fully supporting the government in the effort to reduce pollution is a perfect display of valuing our future, over an easy profit route.” Driven by problem solving, the award-winning Meryl Fabrics uses Nylstar Hydrogen bonding technology to enhance the molecular structure of fibres; seal-in microplastics within the yarn and improve the durability of garments. Their continual innovation in Meryl Eco Dye offers a waterless dyeing process, saving thousands of litres of water during manufacture of fabric as they re-engineer the present of apparel. Meryl Fabrics seeks to replace cotton with its exceptionally soft touch fabrics that feature natural stretch and moisture management properties that are designed to be recycled and offer other businesses a fully circular model in one place. Meryl Fabrics celebrated in 2022 a record year for awards, after chalking up an impressive 11 winner, highly commended and finalist trophies presented by international and UK bodies in recognition of their firm’s major achievements in achieving sustainability with textile innovation. And following on from this the pioneering firm has secured another 4 major finalist accolades in the first quarter of 2023. Most notably the firm was named Winner of the Circular and Recycling Award, National Sustainability Awards 2022; Winner – Industry Award for Sustainability, Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide Ltd (PCIAW) and Winner of the Sustainability Award, MedTech Innovation 2022.
Source: Textile world
The first phase of a museum dedicated to the textile in Qassemabad village, northern Gilan province will be inaugurated in the near future, the provincial tourism chief has said. This museum could play a key role in understanding the textile industry of the region, Vali Jahani explained on Sunday. A total of 27 museums can be found across the province, with a remarkable half of them having been established and opened in just the past two years, the official added. Building or reviving museums can be a powerful tool for exploring the history, culture, and civilization of Gilan, while also highlighting its many tourist attractions to visitors, he noted. Gilan is known for its tourist attractions and warm-hearted and hospitable people. The people of Gilan from different ethnic groups, including Gilak, Talesh, and Tat, have come together and formed a very rich and diverse culture and customs. The northern region was within the sphere of influence of the successive Achaemenian, Seleucid, Parthian, and Sasanian empires that ruled Iran until the 7th century CE. The subsequent Arab conquest of Iran led to the rise of many local dynasties, and Gilan acquired an independent status that continued until 1567. Besides, its sophisticated capital city of Rasht has long been a weekend escape for residents of Tehran who are looking to sample the famous local cuisine and hoping for some pluvial action–it's the largest and wettest town in the northern region. Gilan is divided into a coastal plain, including the large delta of Sefid Rud and adjacent parts of the Alborz range.
Source: Tehran times
The European Commission wants all planned regulations requiring fashion companies to produce clothes in a more sustainable way to be in place by 2028, the European Union (EU) environment commissioner said last week. The Commission is looking to tackle textile consumption in Europe, which has the fourth highest impact on the environment and climate change after food, housing, and transport. Europe’s biggest fast fashion firms, Inditex and H&M, show no signs of slowing down production, but are looking to use less water and energy and more recycled textiles. “The fashion industry has kind of escaped regulation, but we see that they are a big pressure for natural resources and with regard to pollution. We have to react,” Virginijus Sinkevičius said in an interview at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen. The Commission is drafting at least 16 pieces of legislation that will make fashion companies take responsibility for the environmental impacts of the clothes they produce.
‘CHALLENGE’ FOR FAST FASHION Mr. Sinkevičius said the measures, which will be in place in the next five years, will be a “challenge” for fast fashion brands. The Commission will require fashion companies to either collect an amount of textile waste that is equivalent to a certain percentage of their production, or pay a fee towards local authorities’ waste collection work. The amount will gradually increase every few years. The Commission is still working on an initial percentage that fashion companies will have to collect. “It definitely will be higher than 5%” of production, Mr. Sinkevičius said. The European Union’s goal is that, by 2030, fashion companies will produce more durable pieces that can be reused and more easily recycled. Around 5.8 million tons of textile products are discarded every year in the EU, equivalent to 11 kg per person. A truckload of textile products is land-filled or incinerated somewhere in the world every second, according to EU figures.
The Commission is also working on regulations that would restrict brands’ use of sustainable claims to advertise clothing. It estimates that half of these claims, or “eco-labels” are misleading. The eco-label regulation on textiles will come into force at the beginning of next year, the commissioner said. EU governments agreed last month that the bloc should also ban the destruction of unsold textiles as part of the EU’s green strategy to encourage more reuse and recycling. Mr. Sinkevičius said the ban rule would take “six months or even more” to be implemented.
Source: Bworld online
