The Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council

MARKET WATCH 2 MAY, 2017

NATIONAL

INTERNATIONAL

Govt announces 30 per cent subsidy for upgradation of powerloom sector

Mumbai: Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani today announced that the government has increased subsidy by 30 per cent for upgradation of powerloom sector and for the benefit of small weavers. Irani launched PowerTex India, a comprehensive power- loom development scheme today in Bhiwandi district of Maharashtra. On the occasion, Irani said, Bhiwandi will be known for resurgence in powerloom sector. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed us to start the scheme before March end so that people get the benefit from April, she said. Textile Minister said the PowerTex India scheme will benefit the small powerloom weaver's to survive. For upgradation of powerloom sector government has increased subsidy by 30 per cent. The yarn bank issue has also been addressed and an assistance to the tune of Rs 2 crore will be given for the yarn bank created by 11 weavers. A common facility centre will be started under this scheme. Under Mudra Yojana the government would give a soft loan. With the help of Small Industries Development Bank of India (Sidbi) powerloom company can expand their business. Powerlooms using solar power would be granted 50 per cent subsidy, the Minister said. On the occasion Irani and Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis launched PowerTex India helpline for any assistance in this regard. PowerTex India van was also flagged off for publicity of PowerTex scheme across the country. They interacted with office bearers of powerloom sector in remote locations like Malegaon, Ichalkaranji, Kolhapur in Maharashtra, Surat in Gujarat, Bhagalpur in Bihar, Erode in Tamilnadu, Bengaluru in Karnataka, Varansi in Uttar Pradesh and others through videolink as PowerTex India scheme launched nationwide. This is the biggest scheme ever launched in power- loom sector in the country, Fadnavis said and hoped that powerloom centres in Maharashtra would be benefited. As Maharashtra is an important powerloom cluster the Central government has chosen Bhiwandi to launch this scheme. The state government has increased the subsidy for power to be be supplied for the sector in the Budget in last couple of years. Fadnavis also assured about giving subsidy in solar power for this sector.

Source: The Hans India

Back to top

India-Uniform GST rate likely for textile industry, says Smriti Irani

Hinting that the textile industry is expected to have an uniform GST rate, Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani on Friday said that a conference will be held soon to decide on the issue. Responding to pleas at a meeting of textile industries associations and stakeholders here, for fixing five per cent GST rate, the lowest slab for the industry, Irani assured that there would be neutrality in the rate. However, a conference on GST to be held soon, will decide the rate, she said. Later, talking to reporters after attending the Parliamentary Consultative Committee meeting on Development of Powerloom sector, Irani said that the government has launched PowerTex India on April 1 for the benefit of powerloom industry. Stating that the objective of this unique scheme with a component of an in-situ upgradation was to provide financial assistance to economically weaker low-end powerloom units to upgrade from plain to semi-automatic/shuttle-less looms, as it can help them improve quality and productivity. The budgetary allocation for the power sector had gone up from Rs.52 crore in 2015-16 to Rs.110 crore in 2016-'17 and Rs.166 crore this fiscal, she said. Later, briefing reporters about the deliberations of the meeting, Textile Commissioner Kavita Gupta said responding to appeals to tide over the crisis of frequent fluctuation of yarn prices, Irani had informed that the Ministry had come out with a yarn bank scheme at providing interest-free corpus fund. As as result, she said 11 members can form a special purpose vehicle consortium for which the government would provide Rs Two crore and a matching amount should be invested by the stakeholders and stock the yarn for use at the time of a crisis. When asked about the much-awaited National Textile Policy, the official said it was in the final stage and would be announced shortly. To a question on textile exports, Gupta said that it remained stable at USD 40 billion, with increase in the exports of readymade garments, with Tamil Nadu contributing 40 per cent.

Source: Business Recorder

Back to top

Textile industry is batting for a 5% GST

Coimbatore: The textile industry has urged the union government to make a uniform levy of 5% (lowest slab) on all textile and clothing products under the GST (Goods and Services Tax). They also want the government to continue the duty drawback benefits for garment and made-up exports. The entire cotton textile value chain is currently enjoying zero per cent central excise benefit under optional Cenvat route from 2004. "A uniform levy of 5% GST on all textiles and clothing products would ensure smooth migration of entire textile value chain to GST tax structure with full compliance, creating win-win strategy for all the stakeholders and would bring substantial revenue to the exchequer when compared to the existing revenues," textile associations from south India said in a joint memorandum to union textiles minister Smriti Irani. "The net revenue that is being realised with the current optional central excise duty, 2% CST (central sales tax) and reduced VAT (value added tax) rate (in various states) is less than 3% of the revenue to be collected," they said. "This revenue will double if the GST rate is fixed at the lowest slab of 5% without any exemption across the value chain," Southern India Mills' Association (SIMA) said in the memorandum submitted to the minister after an interaction programme here on Friday. "The deserving sectors like handlooms could be given the benefit of refunding of taxes under direct benefit transfer system. In addition, all the state levies like market committee cess in the nature of entry tax should also be subsumed," SIMA said. "Existing export benefits, including duty drawback rates and other benefits announced under garment/ made-ups export package, need to be continued for some time after the implementation of GST as the industry has just begun taking advantage of these schemes and grabbing global export opportunities," the associations stated. "All the existing export benefits could be continued till its expiry period in the case of apparel and made-ups package and for two years for all other export benefits, as the industry has no level playing field in the international market due to delay in concluding FTAs (free trade agreements) with various potential markets," they said.

Latest Comment- It will be good for eveyone if taxes uniform and are on the lower side. "Duty drawback scheme in its present shape is seamlessly reimbursing the tax incidence on input and input services. Any sharp downward revision of drawback rates may be potentially disruptive and adversely impact the global competitiveness of Indian textile and apparel exports," Tirupur Exporters' Association said. Stating that the strengthening of rupee and high import tariffs of up to 20% on various textile products in almost all the major importing countries has made Indian textiles and clothing industry uncompetitive. The associations requested the Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Commerce & Industry to expedite conclusion of free trade agreements with all the potential importing countries, especially EU and Britain.

Source: The Times of India

Back to top

‘GST won’t increase compliance burden’

New Delhi: The GST would not increase compliance burden on assessees, revenue secretary Hasmukh Adhia said on Monday. “Many people think that implementation of GST would result in increase in compliance cost. This is completely misplaced,” Adhia said, while addressing netizens on Facebook. “But with the GST rollout, there would be a single tax and accounting will be simple. It can be done through an offline excel form provided by GST Network. If someone uses this form for keeping record of purchase and sales, then he can use this for filing return,” he said.

Source: Times of INDIA

Back to top

Outsource government services and bring in private sector talent, recommends Niti Aayog

NEW DELHI: Policy think-tank Niti Aayog has suggested outsourcing of public services to private hands in order to reduce dependence on the government administrative machinery. It has also recommended induction of specialists into the governance system through lateral entry, a move which, it says, will bring "competition to the established career bureaucracy".  In its draft report on a three-year action agenda made public recently, the Niti Aayog has set a target of full- digitisation of governance-related works by the end of 2018- 19.  Civil service is the backbone of the government and it needs to be empowered to make quick decisions and implement them. Sustained high levels of performance can only be achieved if it is objectively measured with high performance rewarded and poor reprimanded, it said.  "Today, rising complexity of the economy has meant that policy-making is a specialised activity. Therefore, it is essential that specialists be inducted into the system through lateral entry.  "Such entry will also have the beneficial side effect of bringing competition to the established career bureaucracy," as per the draft three-year action agenda for 2017-18 to 2019- 20.  The draft was circulated among the Governing Council (consisting of chief ministers of all states and others) members of the Niti Aayog on April 23.  The recommendation may come under criticism from Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, who are part of top-level management in government departments.  The Niti Aayog said the dependence on the government administrative machinery for the delivery of services needs to be reduced wherever possible.  "We can make use of the power of Aadhaar-based identity verification to allow private channels to provide services wherever possible. Identification of such services should be taken up and public-private-partnership model to provide those services should be explored," the draft report said.  It also favoured longer tenure for Secretary-rank officer in government departments.  Currently, by the time officers are promoted from Additional Secretary to Secretary level, usually they have two years or less left before retirement.  This feature creates two important inefficiencies, the report said.  One: with a time horizon shorter than two years, the officer is hesitant to take any major initiatives; and two: the officer is reluctant to take decisions on any major project fearing any mis-step may become the cause for charges of favouritism or corruption post retirement.  "This causes inordinate amount of delay in decision-making," it said, adding that one possible solution is early promotion to the Secretary position and introduction of lateral entry.  The report said officers may be encouraged to gain expertise in specific areas in the early s       tages of their careers and the current system of rapid rotation of officers across ministries may be replaced by a system of longer postings according to specialisation.  "Officers should also be encouraged to enhance their knowledge and skills in the chosen area of specialisation through intensive training. This specialisation by the internal staff needs to be complemented by lateral entry of highly specialised staff on fixed-term contracts," it said.  Specialists could be brought on three to five year contracts as such a system will bring top talent and energy into the government system and lend new dynamism to ministries, the report said.  "The NITI Aayog performs many tasks requiring specialised knowledge and skills. Therefore, it has recently proposed changes to its rules of recruitment, which if approved would open the door to lateral entry. This initiative could serve as a pilot for other ministries," it said.

Source: Economic Times

Back to top

India’s trade ties with Latin America set to get a boost

India is keen on improving relationship with Latin American countries, and a number of senior government officials will soon visit the region to fully exploit trade possibilities that it offers. Minister of state for external affairs General Vijay Kumar Singh, along with a delegation of the ministry, is already visiting Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname and Jamaica; while commerce secretary Rita Teotia, accompanied by senior officials from her ministry, will soon leave for Colombia and Ecuador. “The visit by commerce secretary to Ecuador is to attend the first meeting of the Joint Economic and Trade Committee (JETCO), and in Colombia commerce ministry officials will attend a business development cooperation meet where an Indian business delegation too will be present,” sources told FE. The protocol for establishing the India-Ecuador JETCO was signed in 2015 with the aim of further improving and strengthening the bilateral trade relationship. The JETCO will function as the primary forum for discussion and other promotional activities on trade and investment. It will be meeting once in every two years. A team comprising senior officials from the MEA and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is expected to head towards Lima, Peru, in July for the first round of negotiations for a comprehensive trade pact. “Work has already started with Peru. India and Peru see immense opportunities in each other and both the economies can work together well,” sources said. Back home, the CII is organising an event to present the industry’s view of investment potential in the region. Indian ambassadors and high commissioners in Latin American countries will take part in the event. So far, twelve heads of Indian missions in various countries in that region have confirmed participation. India’s commercial relationship with the LAC region has increased manifold over the past decade, reaching a peak of $50 billion in trade and $20 billion in Indian investment in the region. Latin America is now India’s largest destination of car and motorcycle exports, and the LAC region is becoming a hub for Indian IT companies. India is one of the top buyers of Latin America’s vegetable oils, mining and mineral products, and crude oil. Some of the countries besides Peru are willing to sell gold to India.

Source: Financial Express

Back to top

Turkish President Erdogan calls for free trade talks with India

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has called for a quick start to negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement with India. Addressing a bilateral business summit alongside Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday, Erdogan said both trade and investment are way below potential and needs to jump start. One way to do this, he said is by ditching the US Dollar in favor of local currencies from both countries for trade purposes. While the proposal for an FTA had been pitched by Turkey before 2012, dates are yet to be fixed for starting negotiations, a senior government official said under conditions of anonymity. India is currently involved in similar negotiations with Australia, Canada, Georgia, the European Union and the Eurasian Economic Union, among others which are at different stages. However, bilateral trade had shrunk in the 2015-16 financial year by almost 28 per cent to $4.91 billion. Of this, the majority was exports to the country at $4.14 billion and imports at $776 million. Turkey has had difficulty in stabilizing its exports to India which had contracted by a significant 47 per cent in 2015-16 as compared to Indian exports falling by 22 per cent. Both governments have targeted a $ 23 billion worth of trade by 2023. On this note, Erdogan acknowledged that trade was heavily in favor of India, adding that it was 'unsustainable'. The business meet organized by industry body Ficci also saw PM Modi extending an invite to Turkish infrastructure companies for investing in the infra space and especially the Smart Cities programme. He also advised the Turkish government that it might approach the regional film industries as part of its efforts to woo more Indian tourists. Indians constituted only 79,000 of 2.5 million people visiting Turkey last year. ‘To make it better, you will have my personal care and support," he said while signing off.

Source: Business Standard

Back to top

Bengaluru’s labour rights started with textiles

BENGALURU: Bengaluru’s labour rights movement started in the textile industry. Turn of the 19th C, the city was changing with dramatically, according to historian and independent researcher Arun Prasad. “Many institutions came up primarily because of Sir M Visvesvaraya and Krishnaraja Wodeyar IV, who was keen on developing Mysore as an industrial state,” says Prasad. This is known as the Golden Era in Mysore history. “The labour rights movement started with the setting up of textile mills, particularly in Bangalore,” says Prasad. First was the Binny Mills (earlier known as Bangalore Cotton Silk and Woolen Mills) set up in 1884, other mills like Raja Mills and Minnerva Mills soon followed. “The first 30 to 40 years went smoothly with no fight between the management and workers,” says the historian. “In the early 1920s, there was an awakening in the labour class. Workers started an informal kind of union to put forward their needs with their management.” Around the First World War, there was a huge demand for mill products and factories started earning big profits. “Workers wanted a share of the profits since they were putting in extra hours.” The management agreed and started giving them bonuses. After the war, the demand fell and the management discontinued the benefits. “In the 1920s, the workers organised their first strike in Bangalore lead by KT Bashyam, who was a prominent member of the Indian National Congress,” says Prasad. “Bashyam Circle in Sadashivnagar is named after him.” 1926 saw the largest mill workers’ protest, organised by the Binny Mills employees. “Most of the people were out in the street, leaders were arrested, there were protests and firing, people died,” he says. “But there was no unity among the various groups and so, three years later in 1929, workers formed Bangalore Textile Trade Union.” This solidarity paid off and the BTTU grew in strength. According to Abdul Aziz’s article ‘Labour Movement in Karnataka’, in 1938, when there was another face off between the workers and the state government, the government was forced to come for talks and release arrested workers’ leaders. Two years later, another strike forced the government to appoint a committee to come up with a long-term solution. In 1941, the Mysore Labour (Emergency) Act was passed that put in place a redressal mechanism and legalised trade unions.

Source: The New Indian Express

Back to top

Exporters must be informed of change in import norms in foreign nations quickly: Sitharaman

The comprehensive national strategy for standardisation of goods and services being worked out by the government and industry should not lose sight of immediate challenges, Commerce & Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said. “Any national strategy for standards should be able to factor in technology to disseminate any change in import requirements in foreign countries so that our exporters are well prepared to overcome those barriers. This dissemination has to be in regional languages,” Sitharaman said inaugurating the fourth National Standards Conclave on Monday. She said this had become critical as the number of notifications at the World Trade Organisation had increased and many dealt with standards. “India should be setting standards for the world rather than following the standards which are being set by other countries,” the Minister said, adding that the country should participate actively in any global debate on setting standards.

One-stop portal

The Minister also launched the India Standards Portal – a one-stop portal for all information on standards, technical regulations, conformity assessment and accreditation practices. Referring to the problems faced by India in the agriculture sector where the nature of standards set in international bodies often militated against the Indian varieties, Sitharaman said that international standards, especially in food produce, must value variety over homogeneity and India has to participate actively in such standards setting.

Farmers’ interests

“When Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary (SPS) controls are put on agro products, like mangoes or grapes unilaterally, they hurt our farmers. Similarly, the maximum residue limits of certain pesticides or biocides are altered too quickly in the foreign markets and farmers are taken by surprise,” she said. Efforts must be made to create quick information system for such farmers and exporters. The Minister hoped that the proposed strategy would provide a guide or a kind of framework so that “we avoid such crises at the negotiation stage itself’’. She also proposed that a phone-based alert, adaptable to regional languages, be prepared so that conformity to these standards become effective. Sitharaman inaugurated a portal on Indian standards jointly developed by the Ministry and industry body CII that would provide all information on standards existing in the country and conformity assessment.

Source: Business Line

Back to top

Global Crude oil price of Indian Basket was US$ 50.43 per bbl on 28.04.2017

The international crude oil price of Indian Basket as computed/published today by Petroleum Planning and Analysis Cell (PPAC) under the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas was US$ 50.43 per barrel (bbl) on 28.04.2017. This was higher than the price of US$ 49.94 per bbl on previous publishing day of 27.04.2017.  In rupee terms, the price of Indian Basket increased to Rs. 3238.18 per bbl on 28.04.2017 as compared to Rs. 3201.83 per bbl on 27.04.2017. Rupee closed weaker at Rs. 64.22 per US$ on 28.04.2017 as compared to Rs. 64.11 per US$ on 27.04.2017. The table below gives details in this regard:

Particulars    

Unit

Price on April 28, 2017 (Previous trading day i.e. 27.04.2017)                                                                

Pricing Fortnight for 01.05.2017

(April 12, 2017 to April 26, 2017)

Crude Oil (Indian Basket)

($/bbl)

             50.43            (49.94)  

52.36

(Rs/bbl)

           3238.18        (3201.83)       

3374.60

Exchange Rate

  (Rs/$)

             64.22            (64.11)

64.45

Source: PIB

Back to top

Khadi raises Rs 50,000 crore in sales in India

With Prime Minister Narendra Modi pushing for khadi, the sector has raised Rs 50,000 crore in sales last year. Modi in his famous mann ki baat radio programme said that sale of khadi products had gone up by almost 125 per cent. Demand for products like honey, soaps, cosmetics, furniture and food items has been increasing, according to media reports. "I was told that khadi sales increased by almost 125 per cent," Modi said on the 'Mann Ki Baat' programme on All India Radio, according to an agency report. according to the figures released by Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), during the last financial year, sales of village industries produce, or Gramodyog, grew by 24 per cent to just under Rs 50,000 crore. The khadi products raised sales of Rs 2,005 crore, 33 per cent more than Rs 1,635 crore in 2015-16. The combined sales by the KVIC was even larger than several consumer goods companies in the country while khadi sales alone may be close to that of companies like Bombay Dyeing and Raymond, which are yet to disclose numbers for the last financial year, the reports said. KVIC has now set a target of more than doubling khadi products sales to Rs 5,000 crore by 2018-19. The reports said that more and more institutions are now willing to use khadi products with the government hospitals too, soon going for khadi bed-sheets, dressing towels, surgeon gowns and herbal shampoos. "We are expecting orders worth around Rs 150 crore from government hospitals under the Union Health Ministry spread across the country in the current financial year," KVIC Chairman Vinai Kumar Saxena was quoted as saying. Recently, Khadi India had threatened to sue Fabindia, a chain of ethnic wear retail outlets, for allegedly indulging in "unfair trade practice" by selling its cotton products unauthorisedly under the registered brand name "Khadi". KVIC had sent a legal notice to Fabindia in this regard. Union minister Kalraj Mishra had said that engaging people through khadi industry could even help uproot terrorism following massive response to the first ever national exhibition organised by the KVIC in Jammu and Kashmir last year.

Source: Fibre2Fashion

Back to top

Global Textile Raw Material Price 2017-05-02

 

Item

Price

Unit

Fluctuation

Date

PSF

1089.77

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

VSF

2263.54

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

ASF

2244.71

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

Polyester POY

1127.42

USD/Ton

-0.51%

5/1/2017

Nylon FDY

2577.80

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

40D Spandex

5358.34

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

Polyester DTY

2432.98

USD/Ton

-1.18%

5/1/2017

Nylon POY

2418.49

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

Acrylic Top 3D

1346.83

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

Polyester FDY

2838.47

USD/Ton

-1.01%

5/1/2017

Nylon DTY

5807.28

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

Viscose Long Filament

1375.79

USD/Ton

-0.52%

5/1/2017

30S Spun Rayon Yarn

2896.40

USD/Ton

-0.50%

5/1/2017

32S Polyester Yarn

1694.39

USD/Ton

-0.34%

5/1/2017

45S T/C Yarn

2679.17

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

40S Rayon Yarn

3041.22

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

T/R Yarn 65/35 32S

2346.08

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

45S Polyester Yarn

1839.21

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

T/C Yarn 65/35 32S

2244.71

USD/Ton

0%

5/1/2017

10S Denim Fabric

1.35

USD/Meter

0%

5/1/2017

32S Twill Fabric

0.85

USD/Meter

0%

5/1/2017

40S Combed Poplin

1.17

USD/Meter

0%

5/1/2017

30S Rayon Fabric

0.66

USD/Meter

-0.22%

5/1/2017

45S T/C Fabric

0.66

USD/Meter

0%

5/1/2017

Source: Global Textiles

Note: The above prices are Chinese Price (1 CNY = 0.14482 USD dtd 02/05/2017)

The prices given above are as quoted from Global Textiles.com.  SRTEPC is not responsible for the correctness of the same.

Back to top

Pakistan-Increase in value-added textile exports

The exports of value-added textile products recorded 68.63 percent increase to $1.062 million in March 2017 as compared to February 2017. According to statistics there was 6.11 percent increase in the export of value-added textile products in March 2017 as compared to the corresponding period of last year. A representative of textile industry said exports have started having the positive impact of the package announced by Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. The Duty Drawback of Taxes Order 2016-17 was enforced with effect from Jan 16, 2017.

Source: Fibre2fashion

Back to top

Indonesia revitalising textile sector

With exports of textile and textile products rising in Indonesia, the Government there is trying to revitalise the sector by introducing new machines and equipment and issuing economic policy packages. There are also plans for a special regulation on fiscal incentives in the form of fiscal allowance for export oriented labour intensive industry.  Industrialists would have income tax discounts for business expansion under the incentives planned, an Indonesian news agency report said. Indonesia's exports of textile and textile products (TPT) were valued at $2 billion in the first two months of 2017, three per cent higher than those in the same period last year, the report said. "TPT industry is a labour industry providing jobs for around three million people that it could serve as a social safety net," industry minister Airlangga Hartarto said in a statement. In 2016 investment in TPT industry was worth Rp 7.54 trillion with exports valued at $11.87 billion employing 17.03 per cent of workers in the manufacturing sector. The minister said he was optimistic that the country's TPT industry could compete globally especially as the industry had been integrated from upstream to downstream sectors. However, the industry needed revitalisation as the majority of factories used old machines especially weaving and knitting factories. The machines needed replacement. "Revitalisation, we have begun by using new machines and equipment which has shown positive results, but the programme has to be continued," he said.  In addition, economic policy packages already issued by the government should be utilised by TPT industrialists by increasing investment, otherwise, in five years, the country's TPT industry would find it more difficult to face competition from countries like India, China, Vietnam and Bangladesh, he said.  The industry ministry was preparing a special regulation on fiscal incentives in the form of fiscal allowance for export oriented labour intensive industry under which industrialists would have income tax discount for business expansion. The ministry was also seeking comprehensive cooperation agreement with Europe and the United States for benefits such as better tax facility, he said and added small industries would also be facilitated to boost exports. Director General of chemical, textile and multifarious industries Achmad Sigit Dwiwahjono said imports of cloth were also a challenge hampering investment in TPT industry. The industry ministry was teaming up with the trade ministry to curb textile imports to protect the country's TPT industry.

Source: Fibre2fashion

Back to top

Ghana : Garment and Leather Employees Union demand anti textile piracy taskforce

Members of the Garment and Leather Employees Union (TGLEU) are set to demonstrate on May Day to back their demand for the anti-textile piracy task force to be reactivated. They want the taskforce to deal with piracy of fabrics in the local market and would wear red to demand that. The move, according to the General Secretary of the union, Mr Abraham Coomson, would send a strong indication to political leadership that the time had come to crack the whip on pirates to save the local textile industry from collapsing. May 1 is marked annually as workers day to honour employees who had lost their lives in the line of duty or suffered all manner of injustice at the workplace. Workers across the world use the day to speak out on issues that affect them at work and to seek a better working environment. Speaking to the Daily Graphic last Friday, Mr Coomson observed that given the increasing rate of the unemployed in the country, it was appropriate for the day to be christened "Unemployment Day" because that was the true state of the country. "What is the essence of May Day when thousands of people are losing their jobs in the textile industry and other areas because of weak control systems? "After 60 years of independence, our local markets are still dominated by imported fabrics while textile factories that were the hope of the country are now pale shadows of themselves. We cannot be happy as workers in this type of situation," he said.

Fake textiles

Mr Coomson displayed samples of fake textiles that had invaded the local market and asked for stringent mechanisms to deal with the pirates. Even though some of the pieces of fabric he displayed had the designs of Akosombo Textiles Limited, Printex and other local brands on them, he explained that the fabrics were pirated. "We are not saying that other people should not import textiles, but the situation whereby they steal our logos, designs, and evade tax in a manner that disadvantages local companies and deprives the country of the needed revenue should not be countenanced."Local textile companies employ professionals to make the designs only for criminal elements to sneak it to China and other places. Utility bills, Value Added Tax (VAT), cost of labour and other economic dynamics have a bearing on the prices of the local fabrics, but the pirates do not go through the same conditions," he stressed.

Task force

The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) set up the anti-textile piracy taskforce in 2010 to halt the activities of pirates. The taskforce, which included personnel drawn from the security agencies, Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Service (GRA), and the Ghana Union of Trade Associations (GUTA), tackled the challenges posed by pirates to the local textile industry. "Things were getting better when the taskforce was operational. However, after the change in political power, the taskforce stopped its operations, so the pirates have regained their feet," he said. Mr Coomson said all attempts to get the appropriate government agencies, including the MTI, to reactivate the taskforce had not yielded the desired results.

SEND-Ghana report

Touching on the report that was launched by Social Enterprise Development (SEND)-Ghana, a civil society group, on the free school uniforms programme, he said it was important for the government to consider giving the contract back to Printex. "Printex acquired sophisticated machines as part of a roadmap to execute the contract. Following the abrogation of the contract by the government, the machines are lying idle. This situation will not encourage the growth of local industries," he added. Mr Coomson explaining the difference between the pirated fabrics and the authentic ones to our reporter

Source: Graphic Online

Back to top

Haiti - Economy : Textile sector could create 300,000 jobs in 8 years

The Association of Haitian Industries (ADIH) is calling for better exploitation of the Hope/Help Act in force until 2025 to create more jobs in Haiti. For Georges Sassine, ADIH President, there are many opportunities around the world in the textile sector, however Haiti will have to make a lot of effort to exploit them. Businessman Andy Apaid, responsible for coordinating communication with the various sectors of national life, the textile sector alone can provide more than 300,000 jobs in the next 8 years and generate $ 6 billion in exports per year. "Other countries that do not even own 50 per cent of the opportunities of Haiti manage to emerge economically thanks to this sector, thanks to the determination and the will of their leaders". Georges Sassine recalls that thanks to the Hope / Help law, Haiti can buy raw materials all over the world to process them on its territory and then export the finished product to the United States (until 2025) without paying customs duties. Vocational training for a skilled workforce is important, we are building at the SONAPI a Service and Training Center with the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID - Haiti). A training center was also built in Caracol with the help of the South Korean Government http://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-10707-haiti-training-establishment-of-the-garment-technology-training-center-in-caracol.html In three months, these two Centers will be in operation to meet the training needs of the workers. TB/ HaitiLibre

Source: Haiti Libre

Back to top

Kenya : State ups mitumba war with offer to EPZ firms

The government plans to allow textile firms operating in tax-friendly Export Processing Zones to sell up to 40 per cent of their products locally from the present 20 per cent, President Uhuru Kenyatta said yesterday. The move is part of a strategy to promote growth of industry and create job opportunities for the growing unemployed youth, the president said during the Labour Day Celebrations. An estimated 800,000 fresh graduates are churned into the job markets every year from institutions of higher learning. Kenya has since late 2015 been pushing for a phased ban on second-hand clothes, commonly called mitumbas, as part of the ‘Buy Kenyan, Build Kenya’ policy. President Kenyatta on June 1, 2015, directed state ministries, departments and agencies to procure at least 40 per cent of supplies locally under the policy, but this is yet to be fully implemented. The push by the government is also in line with the directive by the East African Community to member states to phase out importation of second-hand of clothes and leather products by 2019. This is aimed at promoting growth of domestic textile and apparel industry. The European Union and the United States are the largest source of second-hand clothes and shoe imports into the East Africa. President Kenyatta yesterday appealed to dealers in the lucrative mitumba business to start sourcing the merchandise from the EPZ firms. Industry and Trade CS Adan Mohamed in March said the ministry was enhancing partnerships with local textile and apparel industry in a bid to improve quality of locally-made clothes and leather products. The partnership between the government and private sector is aimed at fast-tracking the ‘Buy Kenyan, Build Kenya’ initiative, he said. “One of the most interesting and new developments that you will see is the implementation of the recent waiver of duties and taxes on the apparel, clothing and garments that will be captured in our Export Processing Zone entities that will now be sold in the Kenyan market without VAT and without duties,” Mohamed said on March 21. The ministry partnered with textile and EPZ firms to successfully hosts a four-day clothing fair from March 29 at the KICC in Nairobi. The exhibition, which was extended by a day due to demand, showcased “high fashion, top quality apparels” including trousers, shirts, jeans, jackets and undergarments.

Source: The Star, Kenya

Back to top

Bangladesh : MEP calls to respect rights of workers

FE Online Desk Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) calls to respect rights of workers around globe including Bangladesh. The European Union rules are needed to force textile and clothing suppliers to respect the rights of workers around the world including Bangladesh, who often suffer long working hours, low wages and hazardous conditions, they said. The members of European Parliament issued a statement Thursday last. Textile workers, often young women and children in Asian countries, can also suffer uncertainty and violence. These practices also harm the EU industry, as they result in social dumping, MEPs note in a non-binding resolution. In an effort to push the initiative which is aimed at preventing tragedies like the April 2013 Rana Plaza factory collapse in Bangladesh, MEPs suggest a series of measures: Due diligence obligations: The EU Commission should table a binding legislative proposal for a due diligence system, based on OECD guidelines and similar to those for the so-called blood minerals, that covers the whole supply chain.

Conditional trade preferences:

The EU should ensure that textile exporting countries with preferential access to the EU market comply with obligations and produce sustainable textiles, while member states should promote workers' rights in their relations with partner countries.

Clothing labels:

Making the "social impact of production" visible on clothes can help to bring about lasting change.

Role models:

EU institutions should set a good example in their public procurement of textiles. "We cannot turn a blind eye, if our clothes are made at the cost of vast human suffering," said the Parliament's rapporteur Lola Sanchez Caldentey MEP: "Only binding rules could guarantee that products sold on European markets do not violate the dignity and the rights of millions of workers." According to the World Trade Organisation, more than 70 per cent of EU textiles and clothing imports come from Asia, with China, Bangladesh, India, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia as the largest producers. Most buyers are global brands looking for low prices and tight production timeframes and the consequences usually fall upon factory workers. Following the Rana Plaza tragedy, in which over 1,100 people died when a factory building collapsed in Dhaka, Bangladesh, the Commission said it would bring forward an EU wide flagship initiative.

Source: The Financial Express Bangladesh

Back to top

Malaysia : More firms in fashion industry turning to tech

More firms in the local fashion business are turning to technology in a bid to fend off the challenges of shorter product cycles and rising competition. The prize is to snare a slice of a lucrative and growing market. The 3,000 or so apparel and footwear specialist retail outlets here racked up sales of $3.33 billion last year, according to research firm Euromonitor International. Mr Mark Lee, president of the Textile and Fashion Federation Singapore, told The Straits Times: "As buyers get more demanding, technology is increasingly critical for the fashion industry - not just for designers, but also across the spectrum, including manufacturers, retailers and distributors. "The shift towards e-commerce has forced many brand owners to adapt and change the way they run their business." Many fashion firms seek to improve productivity and revolutionise their products through technology. Take Matex, a chemical company that specialises in making eco-friendly dyes for the textile industry. In order to give itself a competitive edge, the firm teamed up with Octagon Studios to create a clothing collection known as Curiosity Wear 4D+. The Curiosity Wear 4D+ collection by Matex and Octagon Studios incorporates augmented reality into the T-shirt designs. A four-dimensional version of the print on a shirt can be viewed using a free mobile app called Wear 4D+. The collection, which was launched last November, incorporates augmented reality into the T-shirt designs. This means a four-dimensional version of the print on a shirt can be viewed using a free mobile app called Wear 4D+. "In such a competitive market, everyone is always asking for the next new thing," said Matex executive director Dro Tan. "We are one of the first in the world to implement augmented reality on clothes. Beyond style and comfort, this is what gives us the innovative edge." The brand has three retail outlets in Malaysia selling the 4D T-shirts. The shirts are also available on the brand's website as well as hobby and specialist sites. Pleatation, which was founded in 2014, is another local company looking for a competitive edge. It specialises in making pleated items that are often heavily printed. It began a collaboration with print company Epson Singapore in March. Epson helped to digitally print items such as bags using its innovative dye sublimation and direct-to-garment printing technologies. Unlike traditional screen printing, which is done by hand and can take two to three months, digital printing can be finished in an hour or so. This shortens turnaround time and enables printing in small volumes for customised prints. Retailers can now have designs on the rack faster and customers can enjoy higher quality and more vibrant designs. Pleatation will incorporate machines next month that will slash the hour-long pleating process by around half. Pleatation founder Chiang Xiaojun said: "With rising consumer demand, technology needs to be infused as a complementary method of production. However, while we increase our productivity, companies need to ensure that the quality of the product remains."

Source: The Straits Times

Back to top

Top 5 Vendors in the Global Textile Industry Waste Management Market from 2017-2021: Technavio

Technavio has announced the top five leading vendors in their recent global textile industry waste management market report until 2021. This research report also lists 11 other prominent vendors that are expected to impact the market during the forecast period. The research study by Technavio on the global textile industry waste management market for 2017-2021 provides a detailed industry analysis based on application (wastewater treatment equipment and water purifier) and geography (APAC, EMEA, and the Americas). “The global textile industry waste management market is projected to grow to nearly USD 3 billion by 2021, at a CAGR of close to 11% over the forecast period. The growth in domestic demand for textiles in APAC is one of the key factors driving the growth of the market,” says Thanikachalam Chandrasekaran, a lead analyst at Technavio for water and waste management research.

Competitive vendor landscape

The textile industry waste management market is characterized by many well-diversified players competing intensely among one another. The global players increase their footprint in the market with their huge infrastructure and R&D support, and regional vendors are mainly restricted to developing economies. The competitive environment in the market is likely to intensify further over the forecast period due to an increase in product/service extensions, technological innovations, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). Technavio’s sample reports are free of charge and contain multiple sections of the report including the market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

Top five vendors in the global textile industry waste management market

ChemTreat

ChemTreat is an industrial water treatment company with a product line of over 1,200 products. The company provides the direction in new product formulations and the development of R&D projects, as well as training materials for the sales force. The company also strategizes on minimizing the capital expenditure and increasing overall efficiency.

General Electric

General Electric develops water, water recycling and reuse, wastewater treatment, and process solutions. The company provides water treatment, wastewater treatment, and process systems solutions. It offers a wide portfolio of water and process technologies. It also offers a wide range of chemical and equipment solutions and services.

Lenntech

Lenntech provides water treatment solutions for all applications. The company focuses on its R&D activities to meet the growing demand in the market. The company aims to increase its sales by expanding in regions. Lenntech offers a wide portfolio of services for the treatment of water.

Pall Corporation

Pall Corporation is involved in the manufacturing and marketing of filter separation, water purification products, and integrated system solutions. It is a global leader in the rapidly growing field of filtration, separation, and purification.

Veolia

Veolia provides drinking water treatment solutions and technologies for municipalities and industries in France. It has operations in the Americas, APAC, France, Europe, and the Middle East. The company operates through the municipalities and industries business segments.

Become a Technavio Insights member and access all three of these reports for a fraction of their original cost. As a Technavio Insights member, you will have immediate access to new reports as they’re published in addition to all 6,000+ existing reports covering segments like energy storage, power, and smart grid. This subscription nets you thousands in savings, while staying connected to Technavio’s constant transforming research library, helping you make informed business decisions more efficiently.

About Technavio

Technavio is leading global technology research and advisory company. The company develops over 2000 pieces of research every year, covering more than 500 technologies across 80 countries. Technavio has about 300 analysts globally who specialize in customized consulting and business research assignments across the latest leading edge technologies.

Source: Yahoo Finance

Back to top

FESPA to showcase digital, screen, textile industries

Stage is set for FESPA 2017 at the Hamburg Messe, Germany during May 8-12, 2017. The conference will present insight across digital, screen, industrial, textile and interior printing industries, as well as non-printed signage. There will be presentations from industry commentator and editor Sonja Angerer on topics like textile printing and printed interiors. Angerer will speak on Textile printing - Fashion Victim or Captain Future - Where do we go now in textile printing? Industrial Inkjet - Industry 4.0 and Industrial Inkjet: Disruptive forces at work, Corrugated Print & Packaging - Outside the box - How inkjet can help the packaging and display industry to secure their markets, and Printed interiors: My home is my castle - How world politics may influence printed interior design markets. The FESPA 2017 conference comprises 23 individual sessions, besides seminars on topics like industrial printing - focus on electronics, global digital textiles inkjet printing trends and market growth, ordinary vinyl for extraordinary designs, and print and pattern direction for S/S 18. Duncan MacOwan, head of events at FESPA comments: "We're delighted to be able to bring together such a wealth of industry expertise. With the speciality print landscape constantly evolving in response to changing trends and technology updates, the FESPA 2017 conference programme will provide delegates with the most up-to-date source of information. Topics range from direct-to-garment and promotional products to industrial, digital printing and business solutions, so the conference programme will deliver all the insight and knowledge PSPs need to think about how to develop their business."

Source: Fibre2Fashion

Back to top