INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
Karnataka Minister for Textiles, Shivanand Patil, instructed Kalaburagi district administration officials to transfer 1,000 acres in the first phase for the construction of the Mega Textile Park near Ferozabad off Kalaburagi-Jewargi Road under the Union Government’s PM MITRA Parks and to identify the Textile Department in the RTC. The Minister emphasised the necessity of accelerating the delineation of Government lands for the establishment of the Textile Park, which was projected to attract investments totaling Rs. 10,000 crore, during a brief meeting of senior officers at Kalaburagi’s Aiwan-e-Shahi Guest House. “It is a mega project that is expected to attract around Rs. 10,000 crore in investments. We need to first provide required lands, complete the process of handing over the lands to the department, and erect a fence or compound wall for preventing its encroachment,” he said. H.M. Kumar, Commissioner for Textile Development and Director of Handlooms & Textiles, presented a detailed report on the proposed Mega Textile Park.
Source: Apparel resources
India and the 10-nation bloc Asean on Monday said they have directed their officials to intensify their efforts to conclude the review of the existing free trade agreement in goods between the two regions by 2025.The issue was discussed during the twentieth AEM (Asean Economic Ministers)-India Consultation meeting, held at Semarang, Indonesia. According to a joint media statement, the meeting welcomed the progress of the review of the Asean-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). It also endorsed the term of reference of the AITIGA Joint Committee, the Work Plan of the review negotiations and the negotiating structure.Both sides agreed to make the agreement more user-friendly, simple and trade facilitative for businesses to increase trade and support sustainable and inclusive growth.”To this end, the meeting encouraged the officials to intensify their efforts with the aim of achieving a substantial conclusion of the review in 2025,” the statement said.The consultation was co-chaired by Indonesian Trade Minister Zulkifli Hasan and Additional Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal. It was a long pending demand of India to undertake the review of this agreement, which came into effect on January 1, 2010.India has asked for a review of the agreement with an aim to eliminate barriers and misuse of the trade pact.Recently, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated that the India-Asean trade agreement is the ‘most ill-conceived’ one.Members of the Asean include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.In general, such review exercise includes implementation issues, rules of origin; verification process and release of consignments; customs procedures; further liberalisation of trade in goods; and sharing and exchange of trade data.Trade experts said the review demand is there because India’s exports to Asean have been affected due to non-reciprocity in FTA concessions, non-tariff barriers, import regulations and quotas. Concerns have also been raised about routing of goods from third countries in India through Asean members by taking the duty advantages of the agreement. Asean has a much deeper economic engagement with China through the Asean China Trade and Goods Agreement.During 2010-11, India’s exports to ASEAN increased to USD 25.7 billion from USD 18.11 billion in 2009-10. However, imports in 2010-11 rose to USD 30.6 billion from USD 25.8 billion in 2009-10.Similarly, in 2022-23, India’s exports to ASEAN increased to USD 44 billion from USD 42.32 billion in 2021-22. However, imports jumped to USD 87.57 billion in 2022-23 against USD 68 billion in 2021-22.The trade deficit has widened to USD 43.57 billion in the last fiscal from USD 25.76 billion in 2021-22. It was just USD 5 billion in 2010-11.
Source: Financial Express
Most of the free trade agreements that India has entered into over the years are not delivering the expected benefits. Giving a starker view of this, a recent analysis has showed that exports to the countries with which India has no bilateral trade pacts are holding up better in the current scenario, as compared to the shipments to the FTA partner countries. In the first six months (January-June) of 2023 merchandise exports to FTA partners declined 18.2% on year while the overall decline in shipments during the period was only 8.1%, according to the analysis by trade policy think tank Global Trade Research Initiative.The decline in exports to FTA partners brought down their share in overall exports to 26.8% in the Jan-June 2023 from 30.1% in the same period last year. The FTA partners with the biggest decline in exports are South Asia Free Trade Area AFTA (33.2%), South Korea (30%), Australia (25.4%), Japan (15.6%) and ASEAN (13.4%), according to GTRI.While overall imports from FTA partners have also declined during the six months by 11%.Overall exports to FTA countries were $ 58.6 billion in the first half of 2023, down from $71.6 billion in the year ago periodr. Imports during Jan-June declined to $ 88.6 billion from $ 99.5 billion in the year ago.The trade deficit with FTA partners also increased to $ 30 billion in January-June this year from $ 27.9 billion the same period last year.More than half of this deficit or $ 16.1 billion is accounted for by Asean alone which explains the insistence of India on review of Asean-India Trade in Goods. Last year the deficit during the same period was $ 19.3 billion. Only with SAFTA is India running a surplus of $ 10.3 billion on exports of $ 12.7 billion and imports $ 2.4 billion. Last year’s surplus with Safta which includes Afghanistan,Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka was $ 16.7 billion. Deficit with Australia ($ 4.2 b), Japan ($6.2 b), Korea ($ 6.7b), UAE ($7.2b). Overall India’s merchandise exports in Jan-June were $ 218.7 billion, down 8.1% from last year. Imports during the period were at $ 325 billion, down 8.3% on year. Services imports touched US$ 89.8 billion during January-June 2023, exhibiting a growth of 8.1 % over the same period last year (Jan-June 2022). Services exports reached a turnover of $166.7 billion during January-June 2023, exhibiting a healthy growth of 17.7 % over the same period last year .Services imports touched$ 89.8 billion during in the first half of 2023, exhibiting a growth of 8.1 % over last year. India’s foreign trade – Exports and Imports of Merchandise and Services – reached$ 800.6 billion during January-June 2023.
Source: Financial Express
India has "positive intent and an open mind" regarding the expansion of the BRICS group of countries, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said on Monday. "We don’t want to prejudge the outcome of discussions over BRICS expansion," he said, ahead of a summit of the group, comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, in Johannesburg from Aug. 22-24, which Prime Minister Narendra Modi was set to attend. He said BRICS is discussing boosting trade in national currencies. But while Brazil and Russia had mentioned the possibility of a common currency for the bloc, that is not part of the agenda. Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the summit virtually, while his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, attends it in his stead. The physical meeting will be the first for leaders of the BRICS nations since 2019, and expansion is a major part of its agenda. Amid dissatisfaction with the prevailing world order, around 40 nations have expressed interest in joining the group, to make it a champion of the "Global South". Kwatra said that as the group relies on achieving a consensus, its members would need to agree on the criteria of how it should be expanded, and the guiding principles. Indeed, all members are not yet on board with the idea of expansion. A "substantive part" of discussions has focussed on boosting trade amongst themselves in local currencies, Kwatra said.
Source: The Reuters.com
BRICS has become the most authoritative organisation in the Global South. It cannot be compared to any other existing organisation because it is unique regarding norms, representation and institutional structure. It is neither a regional organisation nor a cohesive political forum like the G-7. It includes countries which are diverse in terms of political systems, economies and cultures. There are three democracies and two authoritarian systems. BRICS is essentially a political and economic forum consisting of the leading powers of the Global South. The 15th Summit at Johannesburg is an important milestone for BRICS, which will shape its future in the coming years. The Financial Express Online interviewed Dr Rajan Kumar, Associate Professor, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi. He has worked extensively on this topic, and his co-edited book, Locating BRICS in the Global Order: Perspectives from the Global South, was published in 2023 by Routledge, London. Three developments in particular have added to the organisation’s credibility: its economic dynamism, gradual institutionalisation, and resisting Western pressures. Despite inconsistencies and fluctuations, the BRICS as a bloc registered remarkable growth in the last two decades. The share of BRICS in the global GDP grew from 18 per cent in 2010 to 26 per cent in 2021 (UNCTAD Report, 2023). The combined GDP of the BRICS at $26 trillion in 2022 was slightly bigger than the US GDP. BRICS’ share in global trade is about 18 per cent. The FDI inflow in BRICS countries increased from 11 per cent ($84 billion) in 2001 to 22 per cent ($ 355 billion) in 2021. The FDI outflow from BRICS to other countries increased from 1 per cent in 2001 to 20 per cent. Therefore, at 26 per cent of the global GDP, the BRICS economy is rivalling G7’s 44 per cent. The G7 economy was 65 per cent of global GDP in 2000. If this trend continues, the BRICS economy will surpass the G-7 economy by 2030. Second, the Global South has rarely created successful multilateral institutions. The NAM and G-77 turned out to be too unwieldy and unmanageable. In contrast, the BRICS has become a game-changer. It has conducted its affairs smoothly and has produced the New Development Bank and the Contingency Reserve Arrangement. These institutions are funding several projects in the Global South. Third, the BRICS has not succumbed to pressures from the West. For instance, none of the countries of the BRICS acquiesced to Western sanctions on Russia. Western sanctions have not succeeded primarily because of the BRICS. BRICS came under criticism from the West, but its status increased in the Global South. Countries are vying for membership. It has become an ‘Ivy League’ in the Global South.
What is the significance of the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg?
The 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg has drawn a lot of international media attention because of the following reasons: first, after the Covid pandemic, this is the first in-person Summit since 2019. Second, the prospect of the participation of Russian President Vladimir Putin created controversies. South Africa is a member of the International Criminal Court, which issued an arrest warrant against Putin for the deportation of Ukrainian children. President Putin dropped the plan to participate and saved South Africa from its predicaments. Third, BRICS countries are working on principles to include new members.
What are the issues related to the expansion of BRICS? Is there a consensus among members?
In principle, all the BRICS states agree on the expansion of the organisation. But the devil lies in details. There is no consensus on modalities of including new members. They disagree on standard protocols and the time of inclusion. India and Brazil apparently favour a gradual inclusion of new candidates, offering something akin to observer status before full integration. Further, it is an organisation of regional powers, and many states fear that their privileged status will be compromised if a rival regional power is included. BRICS is believed to be working on principles and standard protocols for new membership. Beijing is pushing for speedy expansion for two primary reasons: to expand its global influence to counter the US, and create a favourable balance within the organisation. Moscow would agree on the first part but is cautious about the second part. New Delhi and Brasilia do not share Beijing’s enthusiasm. They do not want the organisation to become a club of authoritarian states which would skew the balance in China’s favour. They do not see BRICS as an anti-West organisation. Forty countries have shown interest in the organisation, and about a dozen states have formally applied. Saudi Arabia, UAE, Argentina and Iran are potential candidates. Indonesia and Nigeria are other powerful contenders.
Is there a proposal for ‘BRICS Currency’? What are your views on that?
The use of the dollar as an instrument of war has alarmed states in the Global South. The West has frozen Russia’s reserve currency and assets. Russia has pushed for the de-dollarisation of intra-BRICS trade. Brazil’s president floated the idea of trade in ‘BRICS Currency’. That, however, is easier said than done. The dollar is used in about 84 per cent of cross-border international trade, compared to 4.5 per cent of the Chinese yuan. More than BRICS-currency, expanding trade in local currency is a viable option. There is a fear that dependence on the yuan will increase if a new currency is floated. And that may not be acceptable to India. Chinese yuan is not an alternative to the dollar because of the absence of transparency in China’s financial system. It is regulated by the state and not by the open market. Therefore, these states should strengthen mechanisms to trade more in local currencies instead of developing a BRICS currency. Nearly 80 per cent of trade settlement between Russia and China is in Chinese yuan and Russian rubles. India and Russia have also begun to trade in local currencies. Brazil has completed similar agreements with China and will do that with Russia in future.
Why is BRICS important for India?
BRICS is pivotal for India for several reasons. BRICS is a by-product of the evolving multipolar world order. It enhances the status of India and places it as a global power in league with China and Russia. It balances India’s foreign policy and saves her from undue Western pressure. India’s economic and security interests are tied with the BRICS states. China as the second largest trading partner, and Russia as the most significant arms supplier, are pivotal. In recent months, Russia has also become India’s second most important energy supplier. BRICS is the organisation of the future. As the influence of G-7 declines, BRICS will become more influential. On several global concerns, such as non-interference in domestic affairs, multilateral reforms, human rights, trade rules and the evolution of the multipolar world order, India’s interests converge with the BRICS states. As a founding member, it has an equal status in the organisation, something which other organisations led by the West has consistently denied.
Can BRICS play a role in resolving the India-China border conflict?
Strictly bilateral and controversial issues are avoided at the Summit. Both India and China pursue a policy of non-interference in their bilateral conflicts. They also have robust mechanisms to manage such conflicts. Therefore, BRICS will not discuss the conflict between India and China. Nonetheless, BRICS creates a favourable milieu for dialogue and socialisation of leaders. It provides a platform which otherwise may be difficult to create. For instance, there are speculations that Xi Jinping and Modi may meet in Johannesburg. Further, such organisations pressure leaders to restrain rhetoric and share information. The role of friendly countries in ameliorating conflict through back-channel diplomacy must also be considered.
Source: Financial Express
In a significant step towards uplifting the Rupee as a trade instrument in the international market sidelining Dollar, India traded with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the Indian currency for oil purchases. Under this landmark transaction, Indian Oil Corp purchased one million barrels of oil from the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company using Indian Rupees instead of the US dollar. This move was a follow-up to another notable move where a UAE gold exporter sold 25 kg of gold to an Indian buyer for approximately Rs 12.8 crore ($1.54 million) in a similar currency-to-currency exchange. Earlier this year, New Delhi signed an agreement with Malaysia that paves the way for trade in Indian rupees. Experts predict that in the coming future, India could lift up its trade with South Asian countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Rupee as these countries are grappling with a shortage of dollars. Coming against the backdrop of the Russia-Ukraine war, the rising global prices of oil and food have put pressure on many countries’ foreign exchange reserves, especially the Southeast ones. As per reports, Sri Lanka defaulted on its foreign debt last year after its foreign exchange reserves plunged amid an economic crisis while Bangladesh’s dollar reserves have fallen to their lowest level in six years. The impact of the Dollar is not only restricted to a particular region but across the developing world, many countries are fed up with America’s dominance of the global nancial system. Reports have suggested that member countries of the BRICS bloc of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa will meet with other emerging economies in Johannesburg, South Africa this week to discuss the alternative of the Dollar. At a meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in June, South Africa’s Naledi Pandor said the bloc’s New Development Bank will seek alternatives to the current internationally traded currencies. A major crisis that comes for developing economies while dealing with the Dollar is the rapid uctuations. For instance, a rising Dollar can cause chaos abroad by drawing investment out of other countries. And in such cases, it increases the cost of repaying loans denominated in dollars and buying imported products, which are often priced in dollars. The implications of these transactions have prompted discussions about the potential impact on the global standing of the U.S. Dollar. Trade in Rupee, replacing Dollar, was not an overnight move by India. It was well planned and an economically sound move crafted very well by the experts. It is not just Western sanctions on Russia that accelerated the trend to circumvent the dollar, but the strength of the currency in the past year has also posed a challenge. Last year, the Reserve Bank of India introduced a new framework to settle global trade using the Indian rupee. In the follow-up of this move, last month, the world’s largest oil importers, established two agreements with the UAE. It is to be noted that India does not earn enough Dollars because it runs a trade decit as it imports more than exports. Since the economy is rebounding, imports are rising, putting pressure on the Indian rupee and making it depreciate sharply against the Dollar.
Source: The Statesman.com
A healthy growth in India’s services segments has helped the country’s total exports and imports of goods and services to cross the $800 billion mark during the first half of 2023, despite a slowdown in global demand, think tank GTRI said in a report on Monday. According to the analysis of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), exports of goods and services rose by 1.5 per cent to $385.4 billion during January-June this year, as against $379.5 billion in January-June 2022. Imports, however, dipped by 5.9 per cent to $415.5 billion during the six months of this year, as against $441.7 billion in January-June 2022.“India’s foreign trade (exports and imports of merchandise and services) reached $800.9 billion during January-June 2023, exhibiting a decline of 2.5 per cent over the same period last year (January-June 2022),” the report said. Standalone, goods exports dipped by 8.1 per cent to $218.7 billion, while imports contracted by 8.3 per cent to $325.7 billion. On the other hand, services exports during the six months period grew by 17.7 per cent to $166.7 billion, while imports rose by 3.7 per cent to $89.8 billion. “Data is showing modest decline due to weak global demand and losing competitiveness in labour intensive sectors. The decline in merchandise exports happened despite appreciating INR (Indian Rupee). INR/$exchange rate appreciated from 76.16 in April 2022 to 82.18 in Apr 2023,” GTRI Co-founder Ajay Srivastava said. He said the world trade outlook for 2023 is weak due to a number of factors, including the ongoing war in Ukraine, high inflation, tighter monetary policy, and financial uncertainty. “But these factors will soon be overshadowed by a spate of new subsidies and protectionist measures by the EU and USA. For example, in the first seven months of 2023 alone, the EU has introduced five regulations on climate change and trade, each of these are essentially measures to curb imports,” he said. India should continue to focus on increasing product quality and supply chain competitiveness, he said, adding since every big country is into inward mode, India should not surrender its policy space especially in new issues in FTAs (free trade agreements) and Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF). He suggested the government be ready to use targeted and precise retaliation to counter unilateral policy decisions like CBAM (carbon border adjustment mechanism) or EU Deforestation Regulation. India has done this effectively in 2019 by raising tariffs on the US products when the US in 2018 raised tariffs on steel and aluminium, he said. The report stated that 11 of 29 product categories contributing to 25 per cent of India’s exports registered positive export growth during January-June 2023, over the same period last year. Those sectors include Telecom, Computer and electronics items; Machinery, boilers, Turbines; Pharmaceuticals; ceramic products. Smartphone exports jumped to $7.5 billion during January-June this year from $2.5 billion in January-June 2022. However, exports in 18 of 29 product categories contributing to 75 per cent of total merchandise exports declined during the period and that include cereals, vegetable, fruits, spices, fish, meat, dairy products; textiles, carpets, garments, footwear, and leather.
Source: Millennium Post
INTERNATIONAL
INDA, the Association of the Nonwoven Fabrics Industry, announced the conference program for Hygienix™ 2023, November 13-16 to be held at The Roosevelt New Orleans Hotel, New Orleans, LA. The program details can be found on the Hygienix website. The keynote speaker is Courtney Scharf, Chief Client Officer, Trend Hunter. Trend Hunter leverages big data, human researchers, and AI to identify consumer insights, and deep dive opportunities for the world’s most innovative companies, such as Unilever, Colgate-Palmolive, Georgia-Pacific, Kroger, Johnson & Johnson, Reckitt Benckiser, Samsung, and Bacardi. Trend Hunter utilizes Artificial Intelligence and research to identify and curate top insights and trends to advise brands and businesses in their pursuit of innovation. The Hygienix program will feature thought leaders in consumer-centric innovations, the circular economy, raw material advancements in sustainability, opportunities for advanced recycling in absorbent hygiene, optimizing the packaging footprint, new approaches for odor control, and market trends and drivers. Experts presenting at Hygienix include: Aquapak Polymers Ltd. – “Creating Sustainable Nonwovens for Hygiene Applications with Thermally Processable Polyvinyl Alcohol; A Water Soluble, Environmentally Friendly and High-Performance Polymer” Asahi Kasei Advance Corporation – “Continuous-Filament Cellulose Nonwovens” Confitex Technology – “Reusables Production: It’s Not All Green” Egal Pads, Inc. – “Closing the Circularity Gap One Used Pad at a Time” Essity – “Diaper Collection & Recycling in Australia” ExxonMobil Chemical Company – “Innovate New Levels of Strong Comfort with Hygiene Solutions” Henkel Corporation – “Reducing the Packaging Waste from Personal Hygiene Products” INNOVATEGRN – “Accelerating Innovation / Embracing a Consumer-Centric Approach” Kuraray Europe GmbH – “Safe and Eco-friendly Elastics for Absorbent Hygiene Products” Nexus Circular – “Increasing Plastics Circularity for the Hygiene Segment Through Advanced Recycling” W. Pelz GmbH –“Disposable Pads Meet Reusable Underwear” Sequel – “Spiraling into Business: How a Dramatic Innovation to the Tampon Met the World’s Largest Manufacturer of Feminine Hygiene” Sparkle Innovations Inc. – Sustainability and Circularity in the Absorbent Hygiene Products Industry” The Hygienix program will offer a hands-on workshop as well as two pre-conference webinars. Jim Robinson, Principal, Absorbent Hygiene Insights, LLC, will lead the in-person workshop on AHP Absorbent Hygiene Systems, Monday afternoon, November 13th. This workshop evaluates SAP absorption for different SAPs and participants have the opportunity to deconstruct and examine several hygiene products including infant, adult, and period care products to increase the understanding of these systems.
The pre-conference webinars include: “Period Care Products—The New, the Old, and the Old-New,” by Heidi Beatty, CEO, Crown Abbey, LLC, October 25th, 11 am ET “Global Trends in Diapers, Baby Pants & Adult Underwear,” by Natalia Richer, COO, and Irene Richer, Market Analyst & Partner, Diaper Testing International, November 8th, 11 am ET A highlight of Hygienix is the Hygienix Innovation Award™. Finalists will present their innovative absorbent hygiene products on Tuesday, November 14th. The winner of the award will be announced Thursday morning, November 16th. Last year’s award recipient was Pads on a Roll™ by Egal Pads. Pads on a Roll is a wrapped super-thin absorbent period pad that dispenses like toilet paper in public bathroom stalls, preventing the personal embarrassment of not having a menstrual product when needed.
Source: Textile world
The world’s second-largest clothing retailer H&M recently announced it would gradually phase out sourcing from Myanmar, days after an advocacy group revealed the increasing number of labour abuse cases in the country’s garment industry. “After careful consideration, we have now taken the decision to gradually phase out our operations in Myanmar,” H&M told Reuters in an email. “We have been monitoring the latest developments in Myanmar very closely and we see increased challenges to conduct our operations according to our standards and requirements.” Myanmar’s garment industry has been in a crisis since the military coup in February 2021. While numerous factories have permanently shut down, the working conditions have drastically deteriorated: wages have plummeted; working hours have spiked; labourers are being fired unfairly. H&M isn’t the first brand to exit Myanmar due to the erosion of labour rights in the nation. Just weeks ago, Inditex, owner of the world’s biggest clothing retailer Zara, said it was in the process of stopping all purchases from the country. The announcement came after a vociferous campaign by the global workers’ union IndustriALL to convince companies to divest from Myanmar. “Inditex is in the process of a phased and responsible exit from Myanmar, following IndustriALL’s call,” a company spokesperson said. “As a result, we continue to reduce the number of active manufacturers in the country.” Earlier, Spanish fast fashion retailer Mango also announced to stop sourcing from the Southeast Asian country. In September last year, Irish retailer Primark said it would “begin working towards a responsible exit” as its “first priority is the safety and wellbeing of the people who make our clothes and products.” Marks & Spencer, a British brand, followed similar steps and laid out its exit plans in a statement published in October. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, Myanmar’s clothing industry accounted for 28 per cent of total Burmese exports. It employed 700,000 people and was the country’s fastest-growing sector. The double crisis, first the pandemic and then the military coup, severely impacted the industry. According to the International Labor garment workers, primarily women, were laid off in 2021. More than 50 factories temporarily shut down and around 13 permanently closed the same year, the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA) said. Moreover, several of the Chinese-owned factories were targeted by anti-coup protesters, trade union leaders were arrested and many trade unions, which opposed the coup, were disbanded by the military. Most significantly, the crisis led to labour abuses in the industry. Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), a British human rights advocacy group, in a recent report, said that there has been a significant increase in labour and human rights abuses of garment workers across the country since the military takeover. The report documented 156 cases of alleged worker abuses in Myanmar garment factories from February 2022 to February 2023, up from 56 in the previous year. It also noted, “Wage reduction and wage theft remain the most reported allegations (linked to over half of cases, 55%), followed by unfair dismissal (42% of cases) and inhumane work rates and forced (and often unpaid) overtime (42% of cases).” Gender-based violence and harassment, including verbal, psychological and physical abuse, and pregnancy discrimination, has also become prevalent. Several instances of women being threatened and unfairly dismissed for not meeting production targets have been documented, the report added. Many experts believe that international clothing retailers pulling out of Myanmar could leave workers there worse off. Hundreds if not thousands could lose their jobs, and working conditions may further deteriorate.
Source: Indian express
