INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
Ministry of Textiles, under its flagship scheme National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), organized the 6th National Conclave on Standards & Regulations in association with FICCI and BIS, emphasizing on importance of Standards, Quality regulations & Rationalization of HSN codes for Technical Textiles in India here today. The event encompassed 5 technical sessions focusing on Standards and Regulations under specialized areas of Technical Textiles like Protective textiles, Geotextiles, Build tech, Oekotech, Medical textiles and in other emerging areas of Technical Textiles. There was a Special Session also discussing rationalization of HSN codes & standards and implementation of QCOs. Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) released 4 new standards during the conclave - (i) IS 18266 : 2023, Textiles — Medical Respirator — Specification, (ii) IS 18309 : 2023 Geosynthetics — Prefabricated Vertical Drains for Quick Consolidation of Very Soft Plastic Soil — Specification, (iii) IS 18158 : 2023 Textile — Floor Covering - Artificial Grass Carpet made of Synthetic Yarn for Landscape — Specification and (iv) IS 18161 : 2023, Textiles — Light Weight Jute Sacking Bags for Packing 50 kg Mustard Seed, Niger Seed and Ragi — Specification. More than 150 participants attended the conclave including officials and representatives from Central Ministries, user Departments of Central and State Governments, Institutes, industry leaders, scientific experts, researchers, and professionals related to technical textiles across various categories. Ms. Rachna Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, highlighted that there has been a considerable progress made on standards in Technical Textiles. Quality standards are critical for technical textile products, as these products are highly specialized and technical in nature. Continuous formulation and revision of the standards for each product category and segment significantly impacts the consumption of technical textile products in India. She opined that to amplify the production of Technical Textiles products, it is imperative to map them with the relevant HSN codes which will facilitate the streamlining of trade tracking and alignment with the HSN mapping requirements. These steps will also support effective implementation of flagship schemes of Ministry of Textiles like, PM MITRA, Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme. A collaborative approach between Certification Agencies, Research Organizations, Industry, Academia and Ministry is imperative to work together in identification of gaps and meeting the standardization needs for the growth of the sector, she further added. Shri. Rajeev Saxena, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, emphasized on the importance of effective implementation of QCOs and introduction of new standards for technical textiles, especially in consonance with global standards, while setting the context for the conclave. Further, 32 new technical textiles’ HSN codes has been notified in April 2023, beyond the list of already notified 207 HSN Codes, he further added. He also highlighted that a Technical Committee for Rationalization of HSN Codes for Technical Textiles has already been formed. Regarding releasing of new QCOs, he mentioned that 2 QCOs for 31 technical textile items under Geotextiles and Protective textiles were notified and will come in-effect from 7th October 2023. In addition, Ministry has also undertaken the task to notify QCOs for 56 technical textile items including 22 Agro textiles, 6 Medical textiles, among others, he further added. He opined that QCOs are vital for ensuring specified standards of quality, safety and reliability of products in technical textiles. Ministry has embarked on the journey to implement QCOs in technical textiles in a phased manner. Besides, he urged the industry to recommend for any need for new QCOs, development of new product specifications standards, rationalization of existing HSN Codes and introduction of new HSN Codes for technical textiles, among others. Shri H J S Pasricha, Scientist- F & Deputy Director General- Certification & CSMD, BIS stated the Textiles Division of BIS has published more than 1500 standards for textiles, out of which about 600 standards are on the technical textiles and its test methods. To fast-track the process of releasing standards, BIS is maintaining the P membership on the Textiles (ISO/TC 38), Textiles machinery (ISO/TC 72), Geosynthetics (ISO/TC 221), Menstrual Products ISO/TC 338, Personal safety (ISO/TC 94) committees and its sub committees at ISO and is taking extensive process reforms to enhance the participation of Indian experts at ISO/IEC level by taking leadership role in various ISO/IEC technical committees, subcommittees, panels and working groups. Shri Manmohan Singh, Co-Chair FICCI-Textiles and Technical Textiles Committee highlighted that there is huge potential in the country for Technical Textiles both for investments and consumption. It is vital to understand and establish robust standards and regulations that foster growth, ensure quality and safety. He also mentioned National technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), a flagship mission under Ministry of Textiles is supporting the sector in significant ways.
Source: PIB
The Indian technical textiles sector is poised for a remarkable growth trajectory, with expectations to reach a staggering $50 billion within the next five years from the current $22 billion, said textiles secretary Rachna Shah on Tuesday. Addressing an event organized jointly by FICCI, BIS, and the Ministry of Textiles, Shah highlighted the substantial progress witnessed by the technical textiles segment, both nationally and internationally. “The global technical textiles market stands at around $260 billion and is projected to surge to $325 billion by 2025-26. In India, we are making tremendous strides with the current market size at $22 billion. The government is unwaveringly committed to elevating it to an impressive $40-50 billion in the coming five years," Shah asserted. Shah shed light on the multifaceted approach employed by the government, which includes a strong focus on research and development activities in the technical textile sector, encompassing fibers and the development of various applications. Additionally, the government is dedicated to establishing a well-structured skilling ecosystem to nurture a skilled workforce essential for the sector’s expansion. The secretary also stated that the ministry is working closely with various inter ministries and departments within the government and state governments to increase the demand and penetration of technical textiles. “One of the critical elements of the approach is focusing on standards and regulations for technical textiles as these are highly specialized products with high performance requirements," she added. Shah further informed that in addition to developing standards, it is also important to map the technical textiles with HSN codes as it will help in tracking the trade of these products. The HSN codes are in turn being mapped to various regulations and standards. A collaborative approach between the certification agencies, industry and various government ministries will be critical in ensuring the success of our initiatives and growth of the sector, she noted. The Ministry of Textiles has notified two quality control orders (QCOs) for 31 technical textiles, including geo textiles and protective textiles, effective 7 October. Furthermore, draft QCOs for 28 items, including Agro Textiles and Medical Textiles, have been notified on the WTO’s website to solicit feedback.
Source: The Mint
Gujarat considered the textile hub of India with the state receiving investments worth about Rs 30,000 crore in the sector between 2012 to 2017, largely due to its attractive textile policy. After this period, the state has been struggling to pull in new investmen The Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) textile task force recently submitted a report to the state government to illustrate that the textile sector policies of states such as Telangana, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh are more attractive, and textile majors such as Welspun, Arvind, Donear and General Group are setting up plants there. The Gujarat Garment Policy expired in 2022 and no new incentive policy has been announced thus far. The existing Gujarat Textile Policy will expire in December 2023, and textile players say the state must announce a new attractive policy to ensure that players in this employment-heavy industry come to the state. In 2012, then Gujarat CM Narendra Modi had announced the Gujarat Textile Policy-2012 for "Farm to Fashion". This scheme boosted the industry's growth and fetched more than Rs 30,000 crore in investments in six years. This scheme offered 100% investment reimbursement in the form of VAT subsidies over and above interest and power subsidies. Gujarat was the pioneer in offering such an attractive textile policy. Rahul Shah, co-chariman of the GCCI textile task force, said, "The Gujarat textile policy of 2012 expired in 2018 and a new policy was declared in 2019 which did not offer competitive incentives. Other states have announced lucrative schemes, which is resulting in the shifting of new investment to other states. Industrialists from other states who had earlier brought investment in Gujarat, are now exploring other states, negotiating with them and finalizing their investments. The Gujarat Garment Policy expired in 2022 and no new replacement scheme has been announced. The existing Gujarat Textile Policy will expire by December 2023 and we demand a strong policy. States such as Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana and Odisha are offering capital subsidies, GST incentives and stamp duty exemption, which Gujarat does not offer. We raised the issue with the state government and are hopeful that it will announce a better policy soon." A top official of a leading textile company said, "The textile industry is employment-heavy and many states thus offer incentives. Gujarat has a strong base with good availability of cotton but the state is lacking a strong incentive-based policy that can compete with other states." Sandip Shah, a member of the GCCI textile taskforce, said, "Many companies have committed significant investments outside Gujarat in the last two years, and some even before this period. Some of these companies have bases in Gujarat while others are those that have still not come here."
Source: Times of India
The state’s spinning mills have declared they are lifting their “production halt” and will start operations on Saturday. They made the announcement during a meeting with the state’s power minister Thangam Thennarasu on Friday in Chennai. “Thangam Thennarasu paid attention to the problems affecting the textile industry. He promised us that after speaking with chief minister M. K. Stalin, a wise choice would be made, according to G. Arulmozhi, head of the Open-End Spinning Mills Association (OSMA). On the basis of his promise, the mills have decided to start up again, he continued. The state’s open-end spinning mills, the majority of which are in and around Coimbatore, have been shut down since July 10; starting on July 15, the micro, small, and medium sector mills did the same. They stopped production, claiming that it had become unprofitable as a result of the sharp increase in cotton prices. They urged the removal of the 11% import tax on cotton in order to reduce the price increase and sought a temporary export ban on waste cotton in order to stabilise the nation’s stockpiles. They also mentioned the additional strain the mills had to bear as a result of the rise in electricity prices.
Source: Textile value chain
The India-Australia interim free trade agreement (FTA), in place for six months, has led to a 15% narrowing of India’s trade deficit with Australia on increased exports of drugs, electrical machinery, and iron and steel articles, along with a significant decline in coal imports due to a milder Indian summer.India’s exports to Australia fell by over 32% in the five months to May compared to the year-ago period, while imports shrank by 25%, resulting in a narrowed trade gap of $3.87 billion, representing a 15% decline from the previous year, according to official data.Excluding the energy basket, such as oil and coal, from the trade data reveals that India’s exports rose by 3.3% during the period, while imports saw a significant decline of 31%, resulting in a narrowed trade gap of $3.27 billion, marking a 41% decrease from the year earlier. Coal imports account for 75% of total shipments from Australia, while oil exports account for 38% of India’s total exports to Australia. India’s merchandise imports from Australia consist largely of raw materials, minerals, and intermediate goods. Under the trade agreement with Australia, India removed the 2.5% import duty on high-grade Australian coal. India’s coal import from January to May fell 45%, driven by lower demand this year than last year when India witnessed heat waves that drove electricity generation and power demand to a record. Besides, coal prices have also declined in 2023 from the previous year due to weaker demand in China, the world’s largest coal consumer. The Russia-Ukraine war disrupted global supply chains in 2022, leading to a surge in energy prices. While coal imports from Australia in the five months to May declined by 34% in value, they fell by about 20% in volume terms. Meanwhile, among non-energy shipments, exports of Indian pharma products to Australia grew by 34.6% in the April-May period to $79.34 million. The early harvest agreement offers easier access to Indian pharma products to Australia by enabling fast-track approval for patented, generic, and biosimilar medicines that have regulatory approvals in five markets, i.e. the US, European Union, UK, and Canada. Besides, electrical machinery exports rose by 173% in the April-May period to $82.2 million. Exports of nuclear reactors, boilers, and machinery rose by 21.6% to $54.18 million in the first two months of FY24. Outbound shipments of articles of iron or steel rose by 74.88% to $56.4 million. The Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement provided duty-free access to thousands of domestic goods, including machinery. These products earlier attracted 4-5% customs duty in Australia. The pact offered zero-duty access to India for about 96.4% of exports (by value) from Day 1. “India has a lot of complementarities with Australia. There is a scope for growth in engineering products and textile products, but we are competing with ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries that have already established their markets in Australia as they had signed an FTA with them before us. Freight cost to Australia is high. So, it will take some time before they forge partnerships with us," a government official said. India’s farm exports to Australia after the FTA declined marginally due to tough bio-security checks in Australian ports. In the six months to June this year, Indian agri exports to Australia stood at $143.78 million, compared to $144.39 million during the comparable period last year. It is expected to decline further after India’s ban on rice exports last week, as rice contributes around 15% of the total farm exports to Australia. “Australia has very tight bio-security norms because it is an island country. So, it is difficult to export agri products in the form of raw materials. So, we are looking to do value addition and push for processed food exports," the person stated. An Australian High Commission spokesperson said that biosecurity plays a critical role in reducing risk and ensuring Australia remains one of the few countries in the world to be free from the world’s most invasive pests and diseases. “To protect Australia’s human, plant and animal health status, we apply biosecurity measures offshore, at the border and onshore. Australia’s biosecurity requirements are applied equally to all trading partners. Australia’s Appropriate Level of Protection is risk-based and science-based and consistent with our international WTO Sanitary and Phytosanitary obligations where trading partners are entitled to maintain a level of protection they consider appropriate to protect life or health within their territory," the spokesperson said. Queries sent to the spokesperson for the commerce and industry ministry remained unanswered.
Source: Live mint
The gross non-performing assets (GNPAs) in MSME loans by scheduled commercial banks (SCBs) have dropped by 14.3 per cent to Rs 1.31 lakh crore for the financial year 2022-23 from Rs 1.54 lakh crore during FY22, according to the data shared by Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Minister of State in the MSME Ministry in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. GNPAs during FY23 were the lowest in the past five years, peaking at Rs 1.83 lakh crore in FY20 from Rs 1.63 lakh crore in FY19 and declining to Rs 1.82 lakh crore in FY21 before shrinking to Rs 1.31 lakh crore in the previous fiscal.Meanwhile, the MSME GNPA ratio in SCBs had dropped to 6.1 per cent as of December 12 in FY23, according to the data from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) shared by the minister of state in the finance ministry Bhagwat Karad in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha in December. SCBs’ GNPA ratio in MSME loans in FY22 stood at 7.6 per cent, 7.3 per cent in FY21 and 8.9 per cent in FY20.Among MSMEs, banks’ GNPAs in priority sector credit to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in the MSME sector had amounted to Rs 1.17 lakh crore in FY22 in comparison to Rs 1.28 lakh crore in FY21, as per a report by the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) on Trend and Progress of Banking in India for FY22. Notably, under the government’s Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS), one-sixth (one in every six loans) or 16.9 per cent of total loan accounts had turned NPAs as of September 2022, according to the RBI’s December 2022 Financial Stability Report. Gross NPAs reflect the total value of gross non-performing assets for the lender while net NPAs refer to subtracting provisions made by the lender in that period from GNPAs. A declining GNPA ratio means the lender’s asset quality is improving while provisions are a part of the lender’s profit or income that it sets aside for loans that may turn into losses ahead.While GNPAs continue to decline, ratings agency Moody’s Investor Services earlier this year had noted that loans to SMEs continue to pose risks to the asset quality of the banking system as the segment is most vulnerable to rises in interest rates, FE had reported. However, the credit growth will be supported by the underlying growth potential in the economy. The credit demand will be supported from corporate sector and continue to stay strong as higher inflation will drive working capital requirements, it noted.
Source: Financial Express
Delayed payments to MSMEs: The total outstanding payments to micro and small enterprises (MSEs) post-Covid has crossed Rs 15,000 crore. As of July 17, 2023, the total outstanding dues stood at Rs 15,681 crore since April 2020, according to the data shared by Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma, Minister of State in the MSME Ministry in a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha. The total outstanding dues, which included the amount outstanding where applications converted into cases by MSE Facilitation Councils and the amount outstanding where applications are pending, included Rs Rs 4,092 outstanding during FY21 that increased to Rs 4,628 crore in FY22 and Rs 5,134 crore in FY23. Till July 17 in the current fiscal, the total outstanding dues stood at Rs 1,825 crore.“The Ministry of MSME launched Samadhaan Portal for filing of grievances & monitoring of the outstanding dues to the MSEs from the buyers of goods and services on 30.10.2017. After the application is admitted by the Facilitation Councils, it becomes a case,” Verma said in his response.The facilitation centres act as arbitrators, evaluating cases filed by MSEs against their buyers for issues related to delayed payments. So far, there are 152 MSEFCs across the country. States like Delhi, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, U.P. and West Bengal have more than one MSEFC. Recently, Haryana also approved the setting up of MSEFC in every district. Verma said the MSME Ministry has requested states/UTs to set up more number of MSEFCs for quicker disposal of cases related to delayed payments. The response by Verma noted that the government has further instructed the central public sector enterprises and all companies with a turnover of more than Rs 500 crores to join the Trade Receivables Discounting System (TReDS), to facilitate the discounting facility of bills receivable of MSMEs. The MoS also highlighted other initiatives being implemented by the government for credit relief to MSMEs such as the infusion of Rs 9,000 crore in the corpus of the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Micro and Small Enterprises, PM VIKAS for traditional craftsmen and Vivad se Vishwas, a Covid-relief initiative for MSMEs who failed to execute their contractual obligations during the pandemic.
Source: Financial Express
After selling its consumer brands to Godrej earlier this year, Raymond Lifestyle has embarked on a massive transformational journey. The company’s CEO, Sunil Kataria takes Christina Moniz through the process aimed to reach younger consumers in a crowded market. Edited excerpts:
The company did well in FY23, registering a 19% top-line growth in the branded apparel segment. What is the road ahead after selling off the consumer business?The past fiscal has been an action-packed year, and the brand has clearly bounced back from the pandemic impact, which hit all discretionary spending categories. Raymond is now undergoing a massive transformational journey and we are recalibrating ourselves to drive exponential growth. Our FY23 numbers are a testament to that. Further, by selling our consumer business to Godrej, we have become completely debt-free. We have the leeway to fuel our growth aspirations with a different level of energy now. Our ambition is to double the Raymond lifestyle business over the next five years in a sustained, profitable way. There is a lot more to be done in terms of retail footprint expansion for our three power brands — Park Avenue, ColorPlus and Raymond Ready To Wear. These brands account for 60-65% of our business, and our plan is to increase the number of their exclusive brand outlets (EBOs). We currently have 300 EBOs across these brands, and we plan to take that number to 550-600 in the next couple of years. Ethnic wear is another big focus for us. The Ethnix brand is one of our newer businesses, and will have its own retail footprint. We already have 75 Ethnix outlets and plan to take this to over 300 stores in two years.
Raymond is perceived as an “occasion wear” brand. How are you creating relevance for Raymond and your other lifestyle brands across seasons and occasions? Raymond is an intrinsic part of occasions, weddings and festive seasons. We don’t want to change that because it is the bedrock of our brand. However, while our customers often come to Raymond for suits, a large number also come to us for apparel such as shirts and trousers. So, they’re not only coming to us for special occasions. Having said that, as part of Raymond’s transformation strategy, we are looking at various business pivots. Aside from retail expansion, we are also expanding our portfolio and introducing more casualwear offerings, thus commanding a larger share of the consumer’s apparel wallet. About 40% of the men’s apparel business is casuals, and we’re seeing that reflected in our customer preferences. Thirdly, while all our brands are strong, they need a refresh. We are in the middle of fine-tuning and refreshing our brand identities. You will see some campaigns from each of our brands soon. E-commerce is another critical pivot in the Raymond lifestyle business. About 12% of our business comes from e-commerce and we want to take that up to 20% in the next couple of years. Therefore, building a stronger omnichannel presence is a key priority for us.
What steps are you taking to attract younger consumers who might not find your brands appealing? Brands in the Raymond portfolio have seen great customer loyalty over the years. A brand like Park Avenue today has a great deal of equity, with a certain international appeal and is loved for its youthful qualities. ColorPlus, the brand that introduced chinos to Indian men, also holds good equity. But we need to do more by way of marketing and advertising to appeal to younger consumers. In terms of retail footprint, we haven’t yet reached a critical threshold and our expansion will largely be in the top 12 cities as well as tier-I markets in the country. We are working on attracting younger consumers in the 28 to 40 year age group, who appreciate good quality and are earning well. For the Raymond brand too, we are working on category development and are introducing more youthful imagery and attributes. It has a great asset in “The Complete Man” tagline, which we plan to reinvent in a way that resonates with younger consumers.
The market is flooded today with fashion wear brands and international labels. What steps have you taken to tackle growing competition? If you look at our portfolio of brands, Raymond and ColorPlus are our premium brands, while Park Avenue plays in the mass premium segment and Parx caters to the mass market with more affordable prices. So across our brands, including Ethnix, we have enough to cater to a wide range of consumers. India’s middle class and super rich class are both growing. So even if there is an influx of international labels and competing brands, there is still tremendous scope for growth. Unbranded apparel is still huge, around 40% of the market, which is where the growth opportunity lies. The shift from unbranded to branded fashion is a growing one, and that is the pie we are all targeting. New brands will only help the category grow further at double digits for the next few years. We haven’t yet reached a point where one can say that there is no more potential for growth.
Source: Financial Express
INTERNATIONAL
The highly anticipated New York edition of Functional Fabric Fair, powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS®, made its return to the prestigious Javits Center on July 18-19. The event successfully reconnected outdoor and sports apparel brands with leading suppliers, offering a glimpse into the cutting-edge trends and innovations in textile development for the Summer 2024/2025 seasons. With record-breaking participation from more than 140 exhibitors — including exhibitors such as Allied Feather and Down, Naia™ from Eastman, and Polartec — this edition of Functional Fabric Fair proved to be the most extensive in New York to date. Industry leaders and exciting new brands gathered under one roof to unveil their latest product offerings and ideas, fostering new connections and collaborations. There were 2,300 industry professionals in attendance, ultimately generating a staggering 4,600 promising leads for the exhibiting companies. Steve McCullough, the event director of Functional Fabric Fair, expressed his delight, stating, “We are overwhelmed by the number of attendees and the positive feedback they’ve shared. It’s an honor to welcome back returning exhibitors while introducing new brands to the outdoor textile industry.” Sustainability lies at the core of Functional Fabric Fair and this edition remained dedicated to its commitment to environmentally conscious practices. In a significant stride towards a greener future, all exhibitor booths and other facets of the fair were constructed from 100- percent recycled materials, leaving a 0-percent carbon footprint for the show floor. The organizers’ dedication to eco-friendly initiatives showcased a resounding call to action for the industry as a whole. Functional Fabric Fair New York served as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange and professional development. The 2023 New York Conference Program, hosted on the Main Stage with sponsorship from NexTex Innovations, featured 13 sessions. A standout presentation was “PERFORMANCE COLORS by Nora Kuehner, MAN-MADE Colors & Trends in Summer 2025.” Kuehner’s comprehensive exploration of color and trend perspectives, considering transseasonal aspects and deeply researched socio-cultural developments and user mindsets, left a lasting impression on the audience. Furthermore, a diverse range of topics, including “PFAS – Issues and Industry Resources,” were passionately discussed by industry experts from Hohenstein Institute America, Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, and PVH. Back by popular demand, the PERFORMANCE FORUM once again wowed attendees with a fresh array of innovative fabrics. This distinctive platform provided attendees with an exclusive opportunity to experience the latest trends and breakthroughs in active and outdoor apparel textiles and accessories. The fabrics on display spanned across 13 crucial categories, catering to every need of the industry and reaffirming Functional Fabric Fair’s position as a beacon of inspiration and progress. Functional Fabric Fair powered by PERFORMANCE DAYS continues to be a driving force in the textile industry, connecting visionaries, brands, and suppliers alike to forge a path toward a sustainable and innovative future. Functional Fabric Fair is already generating excitement for its forthcoming events, having made a lasting impact with its New York edition. The entire team, including exhibitors and attendees, eagerly awaits the next industry gathering at Functional Fabric Fair in Portland, Ore., scheduled for this November
Source: Economic Times
Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited the tiny kingdom of Tonga on Wednesday, as the United States continues to increase its diplomatic efforts in the Pacific while China's influence in the region grows. Home to just over 100,000 people, Tonga last year was the site of a massive volcanic eruption that sent millions of tons of water vapor into the atmosphere and killed four people in Tonga. Blinken's visit helped highlight the opening of a new U.S. Embassy in Tonga and the return of Peace Corps volunteers following the end of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blinken met with Tongan Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni and other officials to discuss the bilateral relationship as well as regional and global issues, said State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller. "Secretary Blinken outlined how the United States is following through on commitments made by President Biden at last year's historic summit with Pacific Islands leaders to elevate our diplomatic and development presence and engagement in the region," Miller said in a statement. Miller said the visit also highlighted U.S. efforts to tackle the Pacific climate crisis, including by expanding early warning systems. Blinken next travels to New Zealand, where on Thursday he will meet with officials and watch the women's World Cup soccer match between the U.S. and the Netherlands. He then travels to Brisbane, Australia, for meetings with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and their Australian counterparts. The trip is Blinken's third to the Asia-Pacific region in the past two months, following visits to China and Indonesia. Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, the husband of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, also just finished a visit to New Zealand and Samoa. French President Emmanuel Macron began a trip to the South Pacific this week. Blinken's travel was announced soon after the State Department notified Congress it plans a massive increase in diplomatic personnel and spending for facilities at new U.S. embassies in the Pacific islands. The update to Congress pointed out that China has permanent diplomatic facilities in eight of the 12 Pacific island nations that the US recognises and said the U.S. needs to catch up.
Source: Economic Times
Crystal International Group Ltd. has been putting emphasis on circularity. Crystal International became one of the members of the newly launched CIRCULOSE Supplier Network (CSN) established by Renewcell, a Sweden-based textile recycling company. By joining the CSN together with more than 40 industry peers, including fabric suppliers and brands, the Group will step up the continuous development of circular solutions to help make fashion circular and to advocate textile circularity via global engagement within the industry. Being a member of CSN, Crystal International plays a vital role in driving sustainable textile supply chain. The Group can explore the potential opportunity to provide textile waste for circularity and access the supply of CIRCULOSE, which is certified with Recycled Claim Standard. Circular economy contributes to a resilient and thriving fashion industry. “We always strive to bring more innovative, sustainable textiles and garments with low environmental impact to our customers. With the network in place, we are delighted to join the CSN, being part of the movement ramping up circular development. Together, we join hands to make fashion circular,” said Catherine Chiu, vice president of Global Sustainability. Through the partnership, Crystal aims to boost recycling efforts and explore the use of sustainable materials. CIRCULOSE is a Next Generation raw material by Renewcell derived from cellulose found in discarded textiles, and transformed into a dissolving pulp made from 100-percent recycled textiles. The pulp serves as the foundation for different regenerated fibers, including viscose, lyocell, modal, acetate, and other man-made cellulosic fibers. In the recycling process, the discarded textiles are shredded, de-buttoned, dezipped, de-colored and turned into a slurry that is dried to pure CIRCULOSE sheets. Renewcell aims to use 100-percent renewable energy in the production process, which received various sustainability certifications with good traceability. The joining of CSN denotes Crystal’s dedication in advancing circular economy for the fashion supply chain. Circularity will continue to remain as one of the group’s integral sustainability foci.
Source: Textile World
The KARL MAYER GROUP, the Südwolle Group and another player in the natural fibres sector have joined forces in a project to explore the exciting possibilities of merino wool for warp knitting technology. The project was triggered by the increasing market demand for textiles made from sustainable and environmentally friendly materials. The cooperation was to develop innovative fabrics from renewable raw materials for use in underwear and functional sportswear. The focus of the work was on the use of wool as a material with excellent comfort properties and the look and feel of lightweight single jersey goods. The natural fiber fabric qualities are not typical for warp knitting processing, so the challenges during the project work were diverse. Regarding the choice of material, the product development team of Südwolle Group recommended the Hidalgo yarn from their product portfolio. The yarn was created using the in-house developed Betaspun technology, in which a filament was twisted around a merino core. When natural fibres such as wool, cotton or silk are combined with sustainable fibres such as biodegradable polyamide as the filament, the spinning process can create durable, lightweight yarns that disintegrate completely without residue after use. The yarns made from the two components also have good running properties for use in warp knitting. “The polyamide content of the yarn increases its tenacity, reduces hairiness and makes it an excellent choice for warp knitting technology,” confirmed Gabriela Schellner from KARL MAYER’s Textile Product Development Department. The Hidalgo yarn, which is made from merino wool, was processed on a warp knitting machine using a carefully thought-out lapping selection to produce a light, soft fabric which, above all, retains its shape. The textile specialists at KARL MAYER had experimented with two different single bar fabric qualities beforehand and had thus adopted a new approach for jersey machines. The first results are promising. “The best thing about the project was the positive surprise of our experts about the good running properties and the excellent fabric quality,” confirmed a member of Gabriela Schellner’s team. Now more trials are needed to perfect the technique. Development partners are needed, including fabric producers, brands, and garment manufacturers, with whom the fabric qualities, machine equipment and orientation to the end applications can be refined. The KARL MAYER GROUP and the Südwolle Group are also unanimous in their desire to push the boundaries of what is possible with merino wool and knitting technology and to develop exciting new solutions for the textile industry through further project work.
Source: Indian Textile Magazine
Recently, Bangladesh’s central bank, Bangladesh Bank clarified the method of calculating cash incentives for the readymade garment (RMG) sector, addressing the complexity faced by commercial banks in the previous circular. According to the new circular, exporters in the RMG sector will be eligible for incentives based on a minimum of 20 per cent value addition from their export earnings even as the incentives will be calculated on a cut, make, and trim (CMT) basis, which means exporters can claim the incentive after deducting shipping costs (if borne by exporters), commission paid in foreign currency, and insurance premiums. To determine the cash incentive value, commercial banks will consider the value of locally sourced raw materials acquired through back-to-back letters of credit (LCs) for export, in addition to the CMT values even as this total will then be divided by the net Freight on Board (FoB) price of the export and multiplied by 100. The earlier circular issued on 9th May, 2022, had announced that exporters could claim cash incentives if they achieved at least a 20 per cent value addition. This marked a significant change from the previous requirement of 30 per cent value addition.
Source: Apparel Resources
