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The event encompassed 5 technical sessions focusing on innovations for sustainable and resilient agriculture, Indian Standards and QCOs under Agrotextiles, performance and sustainability of Agrotextiles and recent advances in Agrotech technology including digital transformation in Agriculture and Horticulture. There was a special session also discussing future growth and opportunities in Agrotextiles. A Conclave Booklet and a Report on Indian Agrotech Industry Opportunity: Fibre to Field, were released during the National Conclave. 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 Agro textiles.
Ms. Rachna Shah, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, highlighted that agriculture plays a significant role in the Indian economy and the life of its citizens. Agriculture is also a major contributor with its share in country’s GDP has a long-term trend of around 18-20%. She opined that Agro textiles can play an important role in addressing the unique agricultural challenges like climate variations, water constraints and high demand of agri-produce with limited arable land available. Use of Agro textiles plays a significant role in improving agricultural productivity and quality of Agri-based products by extending the growing cycle of crops, shielding plants from weather conditions and pests etc. She stated that research and studies have shown that the use of Agro textiles in horticulture leads to increase in farm productivity by 2-5 times, increase in crop intensity, reduction in water consumption by 30- 45%, reduction in fertilizer usage by 25- 30%, and higher harvest cycle per year. A collaborative approach between Certification Agencies, Research Organizations, Industry, Academia and Ministry is imperative to address the cost implications of Agro textiles and work together in increasing awareness and education amongst farmers for wider adoption by the larger agricultural community for the growth of the sector, she further added.
Shri. Shri. Z. P. Patel, Vice Chancellor, Navsari Agriculture University highlighted that there is an average farming production loss of 10-40% due to climate change, especially in the rain-fed areas. Agrotextiles such as Crop Cover, Mulch mats, Polyhouses, etc. hold the potential to manage and stimulate the microclimate for crops during farming leading to higher productivity for agriculture He mentioned that on the back of diverse geographical location-based benefits of Agrotextiles, the segment has proved to be tremendously beneficial for the agricultural sector in India. There is a need for bio-degradable agro-fibre based agrobags which can be automatically degraded in the soil after the mulching process overtime, leading to planting process and sustainability. There is a need of developing innovative Agro textile products like soil- degradable Agro-fabrics, artificial soil which are nutrient rich and has water holding capacity, super- absorbent polymer fibres to prevent waterlogging in high-rain areas, weather, and micro-organisms resistant fabrics, etc., he further added.
Shri. Rajeev Saxena, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, highlighted that the India holds a tremendous potential in the global Agro textiles market of ~USD 12 Bn wherein India’s share is ~3%. Though India is one of the biggest markets for Fishing Nets, other Agro-textile products like mulch-mats, anti-bird nets holding significant share in global demand, can also be promoted in the context of Indian domestic market. To ensure superior quality, wider safety, and comprehensive reliability of products in Agro textiles, he mentioned that Ministry of Textiles has notified QCO for 20 Agrotextile items, which will come ineffect from 1 April 2024. Further, Ministry has also sanctioned 11 R&D projects in Agro textiles valuing INR 13.67 Cr for development of innovative products. He also announced that Ministry of Textiles is going to establish a Climate Smart Agrotextile Demonstration Center to Revolutionize Agriculture through Digitized Microclimate Farming in partnership with SASMIRA.
Shri Priya Ranjan, Joint Secretary (INM Horticulture), Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare stated that Agrotextiles has a critical role to play in overcoming the unprecedented challenges agriculture sector faces due to climate change, soil degradation, and water scarcity which can threaten the very foundation of our food security. Schemes such as Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) has incorporated the different agrotextile products for wider usage and penetration. Furthermore, other collaborative segments within Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare are being looked into for further inclusion of agrotextile products, he further added. He stated that by adopting the advanced technologies under Agrotextiles, our farmers can not only increase the agriculture yields but also increase functional benefits and reduced input costs. This, in turn, will translate into increasing farmers income and the growth and development of the overall agriculture sector.
Shri Ashok Tiwari, Senior Director, SASMIRA appreciated the support of Ministry of Textiles and appreciated the participation of dignitaries from other organizations.
Source: PIb
The Ministry of Textiles has announced the extension of the implementation date for the Quality Control Order for Geo Textiles. The QCO, which was originally scheduled to come into effect on October 7, 2023, will now be enforced from January 1, 2024.The decision to extend the implementation date was made in consideration of requests made by firms for time to comply with the specifications of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), including ongoing certification processes at the BIS for the 19 items covered under S.O. 1706(E) dated April 10 and the subsequent Geo Textiles (Quality Control) Amendment Order, dated May 24, an official statement said. The gazette notification pertaining to this extension is under issuance, and the Ministry of Textiles further expressed its commitment for ensuring quality of these products as these are used in infrastructure projects. The standards covered under the ibid QCO include 19 categories.
Source: The Menafn.com
The Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) has recommended definitive anti dumping duty on Viscose Rayon Filament Yarn (VRFY) imports from China. The petition seeking anti dumping duty on VRFY was filed with the DGTR by the Association of Man Made Fibre Industry (AMMFI) and Grasim Industries Limited. Grasim accounts for 96 per cent of total Indian production of VRFY. The anti dumping duty recommended ranges from 5.48 per cent of Cost, Insurance and Freight (CIF) price to 20.87 per cent of CIF on VRFY imports, depending on the producer and country of export. The revenue department in the finance ministry imposes the anti dumping duty based on the recommendations of the DGTR The DGTR has in a separate order recommended five year anti dumping duty on ‘Gypsum Board/Tiles with Lamination at least on one side” originating in or exported from China and Oman. Saint Gobain India had approached the DGTR seeking anti dumping duty on imports of certain Gypsum boards/Tiles from China and Oman. These goods are predominantly used for ceilings in auditoriums, conference rooms and educational institutions, offices, boutiques, shops, commercial and residential buildings etc. These goods are also known as PVC Gypsum Tiles, Gypsum Ceiling Tiles, Ceiling Tiles etc. The DGTR has recommended anti dumping duty ranging from $ 23.46 per tonne to $ 91.42 , depending on the producer and country of export.
Source: The Hindu Business line
India and Tanzania will sign 15 agreements covering different areas of cooperation, Tanzanian Foreign Minister January Yusuf Makamba said ahead of the bilateral talks between visiting President Samia Suluhu Hassan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday. The presidential visit from Tanzania to India is taking place after a span of more than eight years. "This is a very important visit for Tanzania. The big announcement we expect here is regarding the elevation of the bilateral relations into a strategic partnership. We expect that commitments on enhancement of trade and investment will be announced. We expect an announcement on about 15 agreements covering different areas of cooperation, both government to government but also with private entities," Makamba told PTI on Sunday. discussions with his Indian counterpart, S Jaishankar, is optimistic that India, as a significant partner in the Official Development Assistance (ODA), might announce an extension of a water project in the African country. India has so far contributed USD 1 billion in assistance for water projects in Tanzania. The Tanzanian president will also address a business forum in New Delhi on October 10, where the two countries expect the signing of new deals and partnerships between Tanzanian and Indian companies. "One of the objectives of this visit is precisely to enhance the trade volumes, to speak to the Indian business community here, to speak to the Indian government to see what barriers exist, what challenges exist that impede the expansion of trade. And we believe that we can get to USD 10 billion bilateral trade in the next three years," Makamba said. Appreciating India's initiative for trade settlement in national currencies, he noted that it offers several benefits, including advantages related to exchange rates and preservation of foreign exchange reserves. "There are some technical details that are being worked out. Two teams are working from two central banks to fix some unclear provisions from this initiative to make sure that it creates an opportunity for an explosion of trade between our two countries," Makamba emphasised. India and Tanzania have also been collaborating to enhance defence cooperation through initiatives, such as capacity building, training, technology transfer, joint patrols and military exercises. "Defence cooperation is one of the pillars of our strategic partnership. Now, in terms of the specifics about the kind of equipment needed by Tanzania, that will come later in a detailed conversation between technical teams. The needs assessment will be carried out and the capacity of India to supply these will be determined and agreements may be reached at a later stage," Makamba said.The Tanzanian president will receive a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhawan here on Monday morning, followed by an in-depth bilateral dialogue with Modi.
Source: Economic times
Trade negotiators from the UK are in India and on Monday both sides will sit together to sew up any remaining loose ends in the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) the two countries aim to sign, a senior official said. The UK team’s visit follows commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal’s visit to London last week to push the negotiations further. Both sides have so far concluded 13 rounds of talks. The official said another team from the UK is already in India for further talks on the Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT), to be inked along with the FTA. “Everything is at the closure level,” the official added. Last week FE had reported the FTA would be signed by the end of this month as most of the issues have been, or are close to being, resolved. The investment treaty is being negotiated as a separate agreement. Investment treaties help promote and protect investments in both countries. They sometimes give partner countries greater freedom than other international investors. The main point of contention in negotiations is about the mechanism for the settlement of disputes. India has proposed to first utilise all local judicial remedies before initiating international arbitration. It also wants any international arbitration that happens to happen in India. In December, India passed a law for enabling development of the country as an international arbitration centre. Apart from BIT, the rules of origin and intellectual property rights (the latter two under the FTA) were some of the issues that were proving to be contentious in the negotiations. From the Indian side, the demand for easier visas for professionals was seeing some resistance from the UK. Differences in services have been sorted out on the lines of the UK’s FTA with Australia which came into force in May.FTA talks between India and the UK started in early 2021. In the services sector, the UK has demanded national treatment for its services businesses and greater freedom for its professionals to operate in India. This has been agreed to. National treatment means treating foreigners and locals equally with regard to rules and regulations. It also means equal access to opportunities for overseas operators. The UK was interested in financial, business and professional, and transport services. It also wanted a liberalised visa regime for its business travellers. “In services, professionals moving from India to the UK or the other way round are most likely to be Indian nationals or of Indian origin, so the issues have been sorted out,” the source said. Among the other issues, the duties on whisky and automobiles were the two most sensitive issues for India. In the auto sector, the reduction of tariffs on imports from the UK would be calibrated in a way that its impact on local manufacturing is minimal. In the spirits trade, both countries have narrowed their positions on immediate duty cuts and speed of cuts in coming years . In wines and other spirits, India may reduce import duty from 150% to 100%, and then to 50% over a 10-year period. The UK had demanded a reduction of duty to 75% straight away and then bringing it down to 30% in the next three years. The import of Scotch whisky has grown to 7.5 million cases in 2022 from 5.5 million cases in 2021 driven by Mumbai. Total bottled liquor imports in 2022 were 8 million cases. India’s merchandise exports to the UK increased 9.03% on year in FY23 to touch $11.4 billion while imports rose 27% to $8.9 billion. FDI from the UK stood at $1.7 billion in FY23 as against $1.6 billion in the previous year.
Source: Financial express
In a signal that other G7 countries are not inclined to emulate fellow member Canada’s example of severing trade talks following the murder of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a 30-member delegation from the UK has arrived and will begin the 14th next round of talks for an FTA from Monday. Canada has broken off talks on a precursor pact to a FTA after its PM Justin Trudeau alleged a potential Indian link in the murder of Nijjar.Although UK PM Rishi Sunak and Trudeau had spoken last week to discuss the Nijjar row with the former reaffirming the UK’s position that all countries should respect sovereignty and the rule of law, there are no signs that London wishes to escalate the issue beyond making this point.
Source: Tribune India
Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal expressed confidence in strengthening UAE-India Partnership. While addressing at a meeting with top Business Leaders from India & UAE hosted by Abu Dhabi Chamber, the Minister said that rising economic growth of the two countries and strengthening partnership offers opportunities for businesses on both sides to tap into for faster growth. Shri Goyal emphasized the UAE's pivotal role in this partnership, citing it as India's second-largest export destination, third-largest trade partner, and the largest investor in terms of foreign direct investment. The Comprehensive Economic Partnership between the two countries forms a strong foundation for collaboration, he said. Both nations share a rich history, culture, and tradition, combined with present-day capabilities and future possibilities, which the Minister believes will provide the impetus for this partnership to thrive. Shri Piyush Goyal said that the crucial areas of collaboration between India and UAE range from food security, education, energy security, climate change mitigation to space technologies. The promotion of each other's cultures and initiatives like the Startup20, B20, the UAE-India Business Council and Bharat Bazaar were also highlighted by the Minister. The Minister stated India's role as a large market with 1.4 billion aspirational citizens, presenting a significant opportunity for businesses in the UAE. He outlined the "30 by 30 by 30" opportunity, with India's average age being under 30 for the next 30 years and a goal to add $30 trillion to its GDP by 2047. He encouraged businesses to seize these opportunities and collaborate in the spirit of cooperation and competition. Shri Goyal emphasized the warmth of the welcome he received and the infectious enthusiasm to bolster the UAE-India partnership. The Minister said that the incredible love and affection that the people of India and the people of the UAE have for each other, along with the immense contribution that businesses are making to strengthen this geopolitical strategic partnership, is set to make this the defining partnership and brotherhood of the 21st century. He said that India has witnessed remarkable economic growth over the last nine years under the leadership of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, transforming from one of the fragile five economies globally to now being the world's fifth-largest economy. Shri Goyal highlighted this impressive journey and the ambitious goal of becoming the world's third-largest economy within the next four years. He termed the next 25 years as the golden period for India's development. In his closing remarks, Shri Piyush Goyal compared the UAE-India partnership to a rising tide lifting all boats and expressed his belief that the growing friendship and cooperation between the two nations will offer tremendous opportunities for businesses on both sides.
Source: PIB
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) and India have come together to strengthen their collaboration in sustainable industrial development. This cooperation was formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed on October 5, 2023, at the prestigious Emirates Palace. The MoU was signed by His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Shri Piyush Goyal, India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. The primary focus of the MoU is to facilitate industrial investments, technology transfer, and the deployment of key technologies across various industries. This strategic partnership aims to foster joint industrial and technological advancements, benefiting both nations. Dr. Al Jaber emphasized the commitment to strengthening bilateral relations to drive sustainable economic growth, aligning with the UAE’s vision for advanced technology and sustainability standards. The initiative resonates with the national industrial strategy and the ‘Make it in the Emirates’ initiative, aimed at positioning the UAE as a global hub for advanced industries, particularly those related to the industries of the future. The MoU encompasses several facets of cooperation, including industrial investments in priority sectors such as advanced industries, energy transition solutions, healthcare, and space. Additionally, it aims to develop innovative technological solutions that support sustainability and climate neutrality efforts. This collaboration within strategic sectors will expedite sustainable growth and diversify the economies of both the UAE and India, promoting industries that are competitive, efficient, and sustainable. Mr. Goyal echoed these sentiments, highlighting the MoU’s potential to pave the way for cooperation in emerging technologies such as space, healthcare, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and more. The MoU specifically targets seven key areas, including supply chain resilience, renewable energy, health and life sciences, space systems, AI, Industry 4.0, advanced technologies, and standardization and metrology. In terms of supply chain resilience, the UAE and India will collaborate on identifying opportunities for the supply of raw materials, sharing best practices for industrial growth and development, and offering incentives in areas like energy, land, technology, and labor. In the realm of energy, the partnership will focus on advancing energy storage technologies, Smart Grid, IoT deployment, and R&D in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Health and life sciences will witness collaboration in pharmaceutical development, biotechnology, and research and development. The UAE and India are also set to enhance their space industries through the joint development, launch, and utilization of small satellites, in addition to licensing space-related materials and conducting space sector research. The field of AI will see both nations working together to deploy AI technologies in various sectors, including space, energy, healthcare, and supply chains. They will also enhance capabilities in machine learning and data analytics. The deployment of Industry 4.0 technologies, real-time data processing, autonomous robotics, and additive manufacturing in key industries will be part of their collaborative efforts. Lastly, the MoU will promote cooperation in standardization, metrology, conformity assessment, accreditation, and Halal certification. Information exchange, harmonization of standards, and mutual recognition of conformity assessment results are integral components of this partnership. Under the MoU, industrial and academic collaborations, collaborative research and development projects, and the sharing of best practices relating to science and technology policies will foster a thriving partnership between the UAE and India. This landmark agreement promises significant advancements in industry and advanced technologies for both nations.
Source: The Projectsmonitor.com
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ACT executive director Rachel Kibbe submitted the letter to the Biden-Harris Administration on behalf of the coalition, outlining the need to incorporate textiles into the procurement strategy and extend collaborative opportunities to textile industry stakeholders. The letter acknowledges the administration’s initiatives aimed at increasing the procurement of sustainable products and services. However, it underscores the substantial impact of textiles on the waste stream and greenhouse gas emissions in the US. Kibbe explained: “As the largest purchasing body in the world, the U.S. government has the influence to catalyze more sustainable options, and scale innovation for environmentally preferred alternatives that creates jobs and boosts our economy. I am optimistic that the Biden administration will reverse this trend of leaving textiles out of important funding opportunities and incorporate textile circularity, including recycled content, reuse, rental, and repair, into their efforts to enhance sustainable product and service procurement.” According to the letter, the amount of textile waste in the US has increased by 80% since 2004, making it the fastest-growing waste category in the country. This has resulted in billions of dollars in costs for both US taxpayers and private waste management companies, as over 30 billion pounds of textile waste are disposed of in landfills and incinerators every year. This waste has a significant impact on the production of methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas responsible for around 25% of global warming. On the other hand, promoting textile circularity can create economic opportunities and jobs within the US. Kibbe added: “Textiles play a significant role in our daily lives, and their environmental impact and parallel opportunities often go unnoticed in crucial government decisions and actions concerning sustainability.”
Source: The Just-style.com
Euratex’s president, Alberto Paccanelli together with CIE President, Jose Vte Serna, made the call ahead of the council in Granada on 6 October. The call aims to bring together trade, energy, state aid and sustainability policies into a single, integrated, comprehensive approach, which can support a robust and modern European manufacturing industry. Fashion and textile manufacturing are an important part of the proposed strategy with the duo noting: “Textiles are essential components of our society and our wellbeing. It is key for Europe to maintain its capacity to manufacture high-quality, sustainable and high-technology textiles. With this in mind, the competitiveness policy of the future and the related funds to support it, should include the textile ecosystem in its scope.” The duo continue: “It is fundamental for Europe to pursue a more coherent set of policies that put the competitiveness of its domestic industry at the core. In this context, all the industrial manufacturing sectors should be in the scope, including the textile industry, given its importance in providing essential products and applications to our society. A first impactful action that can be taken in this direction, would be to expand the scope of the Net-Zero Industry Act (NZIA) to include the textiles and clothing industry. Paccanelli and Vte Serna explain that to consolidate a strong industrial structure in Europe, the Union should secure the supply of clean energy at a competitive cost; support innovation and foster the necessary talent pool and be more assertive in achieving an international level-playing field on sustainability, based on the European model. So far, they argue “incoherent and conflicting objectives under the trade, energy, industrial and sustainability policy” had been implemented.
Source: The Just-style.com
Bangladesh's apparel exports to the US shrank 21.77% in the first eight months of 2023 as the key market is going through an overall slowdown in demand for garment products. The country's apparel shipments to the US were valued at $5.18 billion in the first eight months of this year against $6.62billion in the corresponding period of last year, according to the US Department of Commerce's Office of Textiles and Apparel (OTEXA). Meanwhile, remittance earnings from the US also dropped 48.8% to $511.69 million in the first quarter (July-September) of the 2023-24 fiscal from $999.77 million in the same period of the previous fiscal, according to the Bangladesh Bank.The overall apparel demand in the US is witnessing a downturn due to an economic slowdown induced by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, exporters said. However, they said the US market retains a good position for Bangladeshi apparel compared to other export destinations and expected better figures by the end of the year. The OTEXA data show that the overall US apparel imports declined from $69.21 billion to $53.45 billion in the first eight months of 2023 – a 22.77% decline. In terms of quantity, US apparel imports declined from 22.53 billion units to 16.49 billion units in the same period – a 26.80% decline. Bangladesh's apparel exports saw positive growth in January and July from $751 million to $866 million and $694 million to $746 million respectively, while other months saw a decline in this year. In terms of quantity, Bangladesh's apparel exports saw a 29.10% negative growth to 1.58 billion units, which was 2.23 billion units between January to August last year. According to OTEXA, the world's top apparel exporter China's garment shipments to the US dropped by 29.47% to $10.98 billion in the eight-month period. Vietnam, the second largest apparel exporter to the market, also saw its apparel exports drop by 24.57% to $9.06 billion. Besides, Indian and Indonesian apparel shipments to the US fell by 21.6% and 26.10% to $3.26 billion and $2.89 billion respectively. BGMEA President Faruque Hassan told The Business Standard, "The US consumers are facing high interest rates due to inflation, and their buying capacity is affected by the soaring mortgage rates." "Bangladesh may miss its export target for the current fiscal year due to some challenges, but it will be able to maintain a better position than other competing countries by the end of the year as now the country is producing some high-value items, which are given an advantage to maintain overall growth," he said. Faruque Hassan also hoped that the US market may come back to a positive trend as most of their stores have already cleared their inventory, and they may place orders for coming days.Bangladesh saw big drops in remittance earnings According to the Bangladesh Bank data, inward remittances dropped to $1.34 billion in September, the lowest in 41 months. The slides in exports and remittances are raising concerns among stakeholders regarding the mounting pressure on the country's balance of payments. This alarming trend in the two main sources of the country's external earnings puts fresh strain on the nation's foreign exchange reserves and could potentially trigger a depreciation of the taka against the US dollar. Bangladesh's foreign exchange reserves continue to slide and stood at $21.15 billion as of 26 September in line with the IMF reserve calculation method, according to central bank data.
Source: Tbs news
