INTERNATIONAL
NATIONAL
A delegation led by Sandeep Poundrik, Additional Chief Secretary, Industries Department, Government of Bihar, India paid a visit to the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) on Monday, reported Bangladesh Post. The delegation held a meeting with Faruque Hassan, President of BGMEA, at the BGMEA Complex in Uttara, Dhaka with an objective to discuss potential areas of trade and investment between Bangladesh and India, with a specific focus on enhancing collaboration within the textile and apparel industry. Recognising the immense potential that exists for cooperation in this sector, both the sides discussed ways of harnessing these opportunities. The Indian delegation highlighted the investment potential in Bihar and support to investors seeking opportunities in the region. During the meeting, BGMEA President Faruque Hassan underscored the importance of intensifying business collaboration between the two countries. He emphasized the need to identify specific areas where both Bangladesh and India can collaborate to yield mutual benefits. The BGMEA President expressed his optimism about the prospects of expanding trade and investment ties, particularly within the textile and apparel industry, which is a vital sector for both nations. Bangladesh and India could complement each other to capture global market opportunities and grow together, he opined.
Source: Knn India
The Southern India Mills Association (SIMA) is urging the Tamil Nadu government to review its policies related to energy for textile industry. S.K. Sundararaman, chairman of the association said, “Tamil Nadu has been the most attractive destination for new investments mainly due to its unique energy policies relating to wind power, open access power, third party power etc., thus making the power intensive sectors like textiles to remain competitive when compared to any other States in the country.” “To achieve the growth, strengthening the policy initiatives already implemented by the State Government is necessitated,” he said. “Out of 15 million spindles of over 20 years old capacity in the country, Tamil Nadu has 12 million spindles that account for nearly 60 per cent of the total capacity. Unless appropriate policies are announced or the power tariff revision rolled back to the level before September 2022, most of the textile mills in the State will be closed in a few years,” he said. SIMA chairman added that since power cost accounts for more than 45 per cent of the manufacturing cost in the textile industry, it has become a governing factor for any textile unit to sustain its viability, and make investments in modernisation, expansion and green field projects. The industry body pointed out that the Tangedco does not incur losses due to banking as captive wind energy consumers not only compensate all the losses on account of banking, but also provide scientific data relating to wind forecast. The life of wind turbines generators is estimated to be 25 years for the purpose of determining the wind tariff while Tangedco has taken a decision to discontinue banking facility and is advocating repowering of old windmills, it said. Sundararaman added that “It has become essential for the Government of Tamil Nadu to have a relook at the policies relating to the textile industry, particularly the power tariff, to sustain the survival of the industry.”
Source: Knn India
The 61st Joint Technological Conference will be organized jointly by ATIRA, BTRA, SITRA and NITRA December 14-15, 2023, at BTRA, Mumbai. This is the 61st in the series held every year by rotation at each above TRA. This conference, as a tradition, has always attracted a large number of technical audiences from all over the country. Earlier 57th JTC held at BTRA was attended by nearly 400 delegates from industries, academic institutes and various service providers apart from the foreign delegates. In this 2-day conference, approximately 25 technical papers will be presented by TRAs and industry covering different fields of textiles. The conference provides deep discussions on R&D, carried out by all the four Research Associations and possibility of adopting them in the industry. In addition, an exclusive session on Technical Textiles will be held, where prominent speakers from research organizations and technical textiles manufacturers will be making presentations. An exhibition related to technical textiles will be held where technical textile product & service manufacturers will have an exceptional chance to network and make valuable connections with fellow professionals and users during this event. This is a great opportunity for every stakeholder to participate in this prestigious conference as a delegate, sponsor, exhibitor or advertiser.
Source: Knn India
India and Peru are all set to resume the trade agreement negotiations from 10 to 11 October 2023 virtually, said the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in a media statement. The Indian track will be led by Vipul Bansal, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce and the Peruvian track will be led by Gerardo Antonio Meza Grillo, Director for Asia, Oceania and Africa, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism. Discussions on various chapters including initial provisions and general definitions, rules of origin, trade in goods, customs procedures and trade Facilitation, technical barriers etc. are expected to be undertaken during this special round. "Discussions on services, movement of natural persons, trade remedies and investment chapter will be held later in the month based on mutual convenience of the negotiators," the statement added. Negotiations for the India-Peru trade agreement commenced in the year 2017 and the fifth round was concluded in August 2019. On account of Covid-19, the negotiations came to a pause. On the sidelines of the CII India-LAC conclave held in New Delhi on 3 to 4 August 2023, a delegation led by Teresa Mera Gomez, Vice Minister of Foreign Trade of Peru met Piyush Goyal, Union Commerce wherein both sides expressed an interest in resuming the trade negotiations. Subsequently, Goyal has directed to recommence the negotiations with Peru. It is anticipated that the Trade Agreement will significantly boost trade and investment and enhance cooperation in various sectors. The sixth round is slated to be held in December 2023 at Lima in Peru. Meanwhile, India and Peru have been experiencing steady growth in their trade relationship. During FY 2022-23, the bilateral trade volume reached USD 3.12 billion. India exported goods worth USD 865.91 million to Peru, and imported goods valued at USD 2.25 billion from Peru.
Source: Business World
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today has given its approval to a Memorandum of Understanding signed on 28 July, 2023 between the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology of the Republic of India and the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of Papua New Guinea on cooperation in the field of sharing successful Digital Solutions implemented at Population Scale for Digital Transformation. Details: The MoU intends to promote closer cooperation and exchange of experiences and digital technologies-based solutions (viz. INDIA STACK) in the implementation of digital transformational initiatives of both the country. The MoU shall come into effect from the date of signature of the Parties and shall be remain in force for a period of 3 years. Impact: Both G2G and B2B bilateral Cooperation in the field of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) will be enhanced. MoU envisages improved collaboration leading to employment opportunities in the field of IT. Background: MeitY is collaborating with a number of countries and multilateral agencies for fostering bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the ICT domain. Over the period, MeitY has entered into MoUs/MoCs/Agreements with its counterpart organizations/agencies from various countries to promote cooperation and exchange of information in the ICT domain. This is in consonance with the various initiatives taken by Government of India such as Digital India, Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India etc. to transform the country into a digitally empowered society and knowledge economy. In this changing paradigm, there is an imminent need for exploring business opportunities, sharing of best practices and attracting investments in the digital sector with the objective of enhancing mutual cooperation. Over the last few years, India has demonstrated its leadership in implementation of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and has successfully provided delivery of services to public even during COVID pandemic. As a result, many countries have evinced interest in learning from India’s experiences and entering into MoUs with India. India Stack Solutions are a DPIs developed and implemented by India at population scale to provide access and delivery of public services. It aims to enhance connectivity, promote digital inclusion, and enable seamless access to public services. These are built on open technologies, are interoperable and are designed to harness industry and community participation which fosters innovative and inclusive solutions. However, each country has unique needs and challenges in building DPI, although the basic functionality is similar, allowing for global cooperation.
Source: PIB
Welcoming the President of Tanzania Her Excellency Samia Suluhu Hassan at the India Tanzania Investment Forum in New Delhi today, Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution and Textiles said that the friendship between the two countries has been elevated to the level of strategic partnership and the wonderful people-to-people and business relationship that exists between the two countries will only get stronger in the years to come. Shri Goyal noted that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a big advocate of bringing the Global South on one platform. The India Africa partnership has flourished under his leadership and the effort that Prime Minister Modi put in to create convergence on making the African Union a full member of the G20 has finally happened, he added. Shri Goyal said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi looks at this partnership between two modern, vibrant nations as a very defining and substantial relationship that will work for the good of two billion people of Africa and India for inclusive and sustainable growth. Shri Goyal pointed out that the two countries share a rich history and our ties go back decades and noting that Mahatma Gandi learnt his first lesson in Africa, Shri Goyal said that there is a lot of similarity in our freedom struggle, we have worked together as non-aligned nations and that we have successfully decolonized our economies. He said that we now have important engagements with each other and are working from investments to startups, from the healthcare sector to business and trade. He added that there is huge potential and our business persons will truly make both countries proud with their commitment to make this relationship grow, expand and really provide opportunities for jobs and for entrepreneurs in both countries. India will partner with Tanzania in different sectors like education, skill development, capacity building, culture, energy, climate action, trade settlement in local currencies and in technology, Shri Goyal said. He noted that India has offered lines of credit to ensure infrastructure development and ensure creation of utilities in Tanzania. Tanzania is the biggest export destination of India in Africa and we look forward to making this another fast growing story, Shri Goyal said adding that we can work together to ensure mutual food security, and in pharma sector and the new and emerging space sector.
Source: PIB
INTERNATIONAL
The Textile & Fashion Forum Helsinki 2023, jointly organized by Finnish Textile & Fashion and EURATEX, highlights the discourse on sustainable practices within the textile and fashion industry. This two-day event, scheduled for 26-27 October at the unique Little Finlandia event center in Helsinki, will also include a day of curated company visits. Finland’s leading textile and fashion forum will showcase the industry’s pioneering companies and their pursuit of a sustainable and resilient future. With insightful discussions, inspiring speakers, and thrilling business cases, the event drives transformation and sets new benchmarks for the textile and fashion sector.
A Confluence of Visionaries and Innovators The speaker lineup, drawn from Finland, Europe and beyond, demonstrates the caliber of expertise connecting on this platform. Noteworthy figures include Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko, President & CEO of Marimekko; Kai Mykkänen, Minister of Climate and the Environment of Finland; Marcus Hartmann, Head of Public Affairs & Sustainability at H&M; Liljana K. Forssten, Range Strategist at IKEA; and Virginijus Sinkevičius, European Commissioner (on video). “I am thrilled to welcome industry leaders, innovators, and decision-makers to Helsinki. Our fantastic speakers represent the forefront of sustainable fashion, each bringing their unique know-how to drive positive change,” says Marja-Liisa Niinikoski, CEO of Finnish Textile & Fashion.
Focusing on Key Industry Pillars The Textile & Fashion Forum Helsinki 2023 will focus on critical industry themes. The transformation of the textile and fashion industry relies on three key pillars: the creation of different circular business models matching growth with sustainability, a green and digital transition where information technology is necessary to deliver sustainability, and scaling the business, as how start-ups can make a leap and big companies can evolve their growth strategies. These three themes will be discussed in depth during the event.
“Textiles are essential components of our society and our well-being. It is key for Europe to maintain its capacity to manufacture high-quality, sustainable and high-technology textiles. That’s why we need events like this one, where the whole European value chain can meet and develop a common strategy for the future”, said Dirk Vantyghem, EURATEX Director General.
Source: Textile world
Lenzing Group, a global producer of wood-based specialty fibers, has collaborated with Denmark-based Kentaur, a global specialist in the manufacturing of innovative and functional workwear, to develop a pilot collection of chef uniforms centered around circularity, durability, and functionality. Aimed at reducing the usage of virgin raw materials in the workwear segment without reducing quality and comfort, the chef uniforms comprise 50 percent TENCEL™ branded lyocell fibers with REFIBRA™ technology and 50 percent recycled polyester. “Our extended partnership with Kentaur marks a significant milestone in our efforts to transform the textile industry, including the workwear sector, into a circular model,” said Alexandra Steger, Business Development Workwear, Lenzing AG. “The pilot collection of chef uniforms with Kentaur is a great example of Lenzing’s circular solutions that combine circularity with functionality. The collection is not only made with quality fabrics of recycled materials which are the same high quality as virgin raw materials, but it comes with the added value of giving textile waste a second life. We are confident that the comfort and quality of the recycled materials in TENCEL Lyocell fibers with REFIBRA technology will also spread into other types of workwear, like healthcare and hospitality sectors.”
Commitment to circularity and durability in workwear “At Kentaur, we aim to make workwear with a focus on sustainability available for everyone in the textile service industry. When customers buy from us, they can expect our products to be of high durability and are produced using a socially and environmentally responsible approach. Our partnership with Lenzing started in 2018 based on our shared value and mission to drive the circular transition of the workwear industry. Our latest collaboration in incorporating recycled cellulosic materials made with TENCEL Lyocell fibers with REFIBRA technology represents a key milestone in driving circularity for workwear as we demonstrate that using recycled content does not compromise on performance of the product,” said Christian Beirholm, chief commercial officer, Kentaur. With a combination of 50-percent TENCEL Lyocell fibers with REFIBRA technology and 50-percent recycled polyester, Kentaur’s new pilot collection delivers unparalleled durability and comfort for workwear — with the added benefits of circularity and traceability. TENCEL branded lyocell fibers have a better footprint than generic lyocell fibers and Lenzing’s REFIBRA technology further reduces the impact of the workwear product with the incorporation of recycled content. TENCEL Lyocell fibers with REFIBRA technology are identifiable in yarns, fabrics, and final garments using Lenzing’s innovative Fiber Identification technology, which facilitates fiber traceability and enhances supply chain transparency at every stage of the production process.
Collaborative efforts to accelerate transition to a circular economy With Lenzing’s ongoing efforts towards placing responsible practices at the heart of the industry, the collaboration on the chef uniforms showcases the commitment of Lenzing and Kentaur towards workwear circularity. Kentaur has ambitions to take responsibility and play an active role in the circular transition of the textile and workwear segments. By taking a holistic approach on sustainability, Kentaur has set clear goals and ambitions in tackling social and environmental challenges of the supply chain and is committed to living up to that promise in their everyday business operation, product, and supply chain. The partnership with Lenzing has been valuable in enabling Kentaur to produce high quality and circular textile products which is a crucial part of their journey in driving the circular transition of the workwear segment. At the upcoming A+A trade fair, October 24–27, 2023, Lenzing will be showcasing its latest portfolio of protective wear and workwear, including the new pilot collection of chef uniforms through the partnership with Kentaur.
Source: Textile World
The Appalachian Regional Commission awarded a $10 million grant to The Industrial Commons, a nonprofit in western North Carolina, to build a 40,000-square-foot textile manufacturing center in Burke County. This project is a collaboration between North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee aimed at improving economic prosperity in southern Appalachia. Overall, the project will include $60 million in private investment and will create 85 jobs across the three states, with 31 jobs being added in North Carolina. The county seat of Burke County is Morganton. The new facility will produce circular textiles – a process where textile waste is broken down and turned into new yarn, which can be used as a new raw material to make new products at The Industrial Commons and throughout the textile manufacturing supply chain. The Industrial Commons is a woman-owned and led nonprofit that supports the scaling of employee-owned businesses and industrial cooperatives while helping the region’s manufacturing workforce improve its prosperity The Industrial Commons is home to three enterprises – Good Books, Carolina Textile District, and Material Return – that have saved 1.8 million pounds of fabric from landfills over the past five years. The manufacturing hub will be part of TIC’s larger Innovation Campus to be located at the former Drexel Heritage Furniture site in Morganton. “The Industrial Commons is a nationally recognized model for our circular economy,” said N.C. Commerce Secretary Machelle Baker Sanders in a statement. “Since its founding in 2015, TIC has been on the frontlines of reenergizing the industrial manufacturing economy in western North Carolina through its unique workforce training and community support programs that have trained more than 3,700 workers.” The project will also establish a textile supply chain and connect entrepreneurs in Appalachian North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. The $10 million grant is provided through the Appalachian Regional Initiative for Strong Economies, a new federal program through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which drives large-scale economic transformation through multi-state collaboration. The project also received a $5 million appropriation from the N.C. General Assembly to support the construction of the incubator.
Source: Businessnc.com
Textile manufacturers from across the global market are still struggling with rising costs and weak demand, according to the latest Global Textile Industry Survey (GTIS) from the International Textile Manufacturers Federation.
Source: Knitting Trade Journal
