The Manmade Fibers Segment of Oerlikon has achieved strong growth increasing order intake by over 40 % and sales by over 90 % yearon- year. The filament equipment market is seeing a resounding recovery and the Segment scored wins with large filament equipment customers in China thanks to its competitive market standing and technologies. The Segment also succeeded in growing its business outside of China primarily in India and in the global staple fibers market. The Segment attained a double-digit EBITDA margin reflecting the top-line development and the improvement in flexibility quality of work processes customer projects and operating leverage as well as strict cost discipline. However the Segment is and will remain impacted by lower-margin orders and projects from the down-cycle period. EBIT for Q3 2017 stood at CHF 17 million (Q3 2016: CHF - 4 million). In the third quarter the Segment also delivered its first automated DTY (Draw Texturized Yarn) machine eAFK HQ to one of its key account customers in China. The eAFK machine launched in 2016 is a highly compact and space saving machine that can offer up to a 50 % increase in productivity. “We are pleased to announce another quarter of profitable growth ” said Dr. Roland Fischer CEO of Oerlikon Group. “Our positive performance confirms that our strategy addresses attractive markets our initiatives and activities are delivering positive results and we are able to take advantage of the growth momentum and opportunities in our end markets. Consequently we are in a position to increase our full-year expectations for the second time this year.” “Our surface solutions business continued delivering strong performance achieving double-digit top-line growth and maintaining its operating profitability at over 20 %. Thanks to its market-leading position our manmade fibers business succeeded in securing substantial orders and sales primarily but not only in the filament equipment market in China. Following the repositioning efforts our drive systems business is today in good shape and in a favorable position to take advantage of opportunities in its markets. As a result we achieved another quarter of good top line and operating profitability ” added Dr. Fischer. “As we see a growing demand for surface solutions and advanced materials technologies in many of our end markets we will continue to expand and improve our technology and service offering in this business while further strengthening the market position and growth potential of our other two businesses ” he said.
Source : Tecoya Trend
India jumped up 30 notches into the top 100 rankings on the World Bank’s ‘ease of doing business’ index, thanks to major improvements in indicators such as resolving insolvency, paying taxes, protecting minority investors and getting credit. “The significant jump this year is a result of the Indian government’s consistent efforts over the past few years and India’s endeavour to strengthen its position as a preferred place to do business,” said Annette Dixon, Vice President, South Asia region at the release of ‘Doing Business 2018: Reforming to Create Jobs’ on Tuesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the jump in India’s ranking as “historic” and said it was a result of “all-round and multi-sectoral reform push.” Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said India’s jump is the highest by any country, and that reaching the ‘top 50’ target set by Prime Minister Modi is “doable”.
GST will improve rank
“There is significant improvement in many criteria such as protecting minority investors, availability of credit and getting an electricity connection,” Jaitley said, adding that on the taxation index, India had vaulted up 53 places once the impact of the GST is factored in, the ranking will improve further. The cut-off for the rankings was June 1. “Work is in progress in many areas such as enforcement of contracts and building construction permits. The reforms in starting a business have not been factored in,” Jaitley said. “If we expedite this work in the next few months, India can come in even higher.” An improvement in the rankings will help not only foreign investments but also domestic investors. The Centre, Jaitley said, would talk to States to expedite construction permits. These initiatives would help India improve its position by at least 30 points, he said. Asked about India’s low ranking in registering property, DIPP secretary Ramesh Abhishek said, “There are over 100 reforms in progress that have not been factored in this year.” Only two of 42 completed reforms had been accepted, and two others had been partially accepted, he said. India is among the top ten improvers this year, with improved ranking in six of the ten indicators, while its performance in absolute terms improved in nine. The six areas of improved ranking include dealing with construction permits and enforcing contracts.
Where India slipped up
In the category of starting a business, though, the need for local entrepreneurs to go through 12 procedures to start a business, as opposed to five in high-income countries, worsened India’s ranking in the category to 156 from 155 last year. There was also a major slip in ranking in the category of registering property — from 138 last year to 154 this year — due to increase in time taken, cost and number of procedures for registration. Bhutan, in 75th place, is South Asia’s highest-ranked economy, followed by India (at 100) and Nepal (at 105). This year, the report recognised eight areas in which reforms were implemented in Delhi and Mumbai, as opposed to just four last year. India’s corporate law and securities regulations were recognised as highly advanced, placing it in fourth place in the global ranking on protecting minority investors. The time taken to obtain an electricity connection in Delhi reduced from 138 days four years back to 45 days now, against a 78-day average in OECD high-income economies, the report observed. This put India in 29th place in the category. India still lags in areas such as starting a business, enforcing contracts and dealing with construction permits. It takes longer to enforce a contract today, at 1,445 days, than 15 years ago (1,420 days). “Tackling these challenging reforms will be key to India sustaining the momentum towards a higher ranking. To secure changes in the remaining areas will require not just new laws and online systems but deepening the ongoing investment in the capacity of States to implement change and transform the framework of incentives and regulation facing the private sector,” Junaid Ahmad, Country Director World Bank said.
Source: Business Line
The Supreme Court today agreed to hear on November 6 a plea of a group of industries seeking “reasonable time” to implement the apex court order banning use of furnace oil and pet coke to curb pollution. A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and S Abdul Nazeer said the appropriate bench will hear the matter on November 6. The counsel appearing for a group of industries said they do not have any problem with the October 24 order of the apex court but some “reasonable time should be given to implement it”. The counsel further said that the apex court banned the use of furnace oil and pet coke from November 1 and noncompliance will result in closure of such industries using these fuels. Earlier the apex courtappointed Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) in its report to the top court had recommended that “distribution sale and use of furnace oil and pet coke would be strictly banned in NCR”. The court in its May 2 this year order had noted that the use of furnace oil and pet coke was prohibited in Delhi. The court was hearing a PIL filed in 1985 by environmentalist M C Mehta who had raised the issue of air pollution in the Delhi-NCR. Earlier the court was told about the ill-effects of pet coke and furnace oil used in the industries on ambient air and it was said that emissions from such units were highly toxic as these discharged high sulphur content
Source: Tecoya Trend
Surat: With assembly elections in Gujarat around the corner, the central government has gone all out to appease textile traders, weavers and those connected with the embroidery sector in the country's largest man-made fabric (MMF) hub in Surat. In the last fortnight or so, the Centre has taken many decisions related to the Goods and Services Tax (GST) with a view to ease the burden on textile sector. From reducing GST on yarn from 18% to 12%, increasing basic customs duty by 25% to curb import of undervalued fabrics from China, and giving relief in filing of GST returns, it has gone all out to appease the textile sector. However, industry leaders believe damage to the textile sector was done when GST came into effect on July 1 and that these late announcements are of no help to the textile sector now. "Since last three years, we have been making representations to the central government to increase basic customs duty on imported fabrics. Two days ago, it took a decision to increase customs duty by almost 25%, which is a welcome step," Pandesara Weavers Cooperative Society Ltd president Ashish Gujarati said. Gujarati added, "But most of our demands are still pending. There was no need to reduce GST on yarn to 12%, when the weavers will not be able to utilize the accumulation of input tax credit. Traders, embroidery unit owners and lakhs of women associated with embroidery business are unhappy with 5% GST." Federation of Gujarat Weavers' Association (FOGWA) president Ashok Jirawala said, "The weaving sector is observing month-long Diwali vacation. Many workers have left the city and may not return. Most of the small weaving units may not open up after Diwali vacation. Around 70% of the textile shops are shut. The damage has been done." Meanwhile, textile traders hailing from Rajasthan are scheduled to meet Congress leader Ashok Gehlot on Tuesday to discuss their issues and challenges faced by small traders in the market due to GST implementation. The traders want an assurance that GST will be removed on man-made fabrics. "Till now, we have out and out supported the BJP. In 2014 elections, we played a major role in popularizing Narendra Modi in Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Odisha. We want assurance from Congress now that it will bail out traders and textile sector from the GST law," said textile trader Hitesh Sanklecha.
Source: The Times of India
Ujwal Lahoti, Chairman Texprocil (Textile Export Promotion Council) welcomed the new initiative of the Ministries of Textiles and Power called SAATHI which is an acronym for the Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of efficient Textile technologies to Help small Industries. Lahoti stated that the provision to repay in instalments is a novel idea as it will not cast undue burden on the small power-loom owners since they will not be required to incur any additional capital expenditureThis initiative is expected to benefit the almost 25 lakh power-loom units in the country which produce 57 percent of the total cloth in the country. The use of efficient equipment would result in energy savings and cost savings to the unit owner who would in turn repay in instalments to EESL (Energy Efficient Services Limited) over a 4 to 5 year period. Lahoti stated that the provision to repay in instalments is a novel idea as it will not cast undue burden on the small power-loom owners since they will not be required to incur any additional capital expenditure. Lahoti pointed out that this initiative is a step in the right direction as there is enormous scope for increasing the production and exports of fabrics from India in view of the abundant availability of raw materials and technical skills in the country. The exports of fabrics can be increased substantially if they are treated on par with garments and made-ups in terms of incentives. However, inspite of these advantages and even though the weaving capacity has increased by 12 per cent over last seven years, the woven fabric production has decreased by 3.58 per cent as the fabric export has become uncompetitive due to various added costs, non-refund of State levies and the duty free access enjoyed by countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam in EU market. Lahoti added that the government should look at extending the ROSL (Refund of State Levies) benefit of above 5 per cent to the fabric sector, so that the product gets exported and not the embedded taxes.
Source: Indiaretailing Bureau
More cotton farmers in the district are in protest mode owing to their harvest being rejected by the Cotton Corporation of India Limited, the procuring agency under the Government of India, for failing to meet the prescribed standards. Four days after the CCI opened its counter at a ginning mill at Nakrekal under the Agricultural Market Committee, the net weight procured so far stands at 7,284.25 quintals, its officials say. And a contrasting data shared by a mill owner puts the net weight till date at 3,776.90 quintals against the 166 takpattis (farmer’s invoices). However, more than 60 farmers do not see their harvest contributing to either of the figures, and their tractors have been in queue for nearly four days. “The officer inserts the device into the cotton, and within three minutes we hear ‘Rejected’,” says N. Shankaraiah from Pittampally. Another farmer from Thipparthy also pleads officers that his produce be taken, at any rate. “I have already spent a lot towards labour charges, and ₹3,000 for transportation and halting. I can’t go back home with more losses,” he says.
Moisture content
According to CCI purchasing officer Vengal Reddy, most of the cotton brought by the farmers showed moisture content beyond the prescribed level. And, 12% is the maximum permissible limit to be eligible for minimum support price. “Sometimes it goes beyond 15% and 18%. The problem is also with the coloured lint, from yellow to orange and red bolls. A clear no in terms of quality,” he says.
Protest against CCI
Several cotton farmers at CCI counters at Chandur and Chityala halted traffic by blocking the roads and protested against the CCI. Others who felt betrayed by the season and the CCI say they sold the harvest to the same mill owners there at nearly 40% less than the government declared price of ₹4, 147 (for 12% MC) per quintal. The Committee at Nakrekal has already issued ‘waiting tokens’ to about 800 farmers, to be cleared by the CCI by November 10. A new batch of farmers would be accepted after that, say the officials.
Source : The Hindu
The Bihar government will initiate measures to strengthen the state’s silk industry, which has a huge potential for rural employment generation, chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar said recently while addressing 'Udyami Panchayat', a forum of entrepreneurs, where silk producers apprised government officials of their problems and probable solutions. The government will offer assistance to everyone associated with this industry, be it handlooms, powerlooms or dyeing units, a news agency report quoted Kumar as saying. Equipment have been provided to at least 661 women across the state to boost tusar silk production, he said. The state is also planning measures like one-time settlement of power dues as incentives for silk producers, Kumar added. (DS)
Source: Fibre2Fashion
Warangal: Cotton farmers, led by Telangana Rythu Sangham took, out a rally demanding remunerative price to their produce. Addressing a meeting after the dharna here on Tuesday, AIKS national vice-president Sarampally Malla Reddy deplored that farmers in the State, who cultivated cotton in around 46 lakh acres, subjected to untold misery. “The indifferent rain patterns this season wreaked havoc on crop resulting in low yield. On the other hand, the Central government announced a support price of Rs 4,320 per quintal, this despite State government’s recommendation of Rs 7,725 per quintal,” he said. This apart, though the State urged the Centre to open 145 CCI procurement centres across Telangana, but the number was limited to just 83 centres. Moreover, the CCI centres are yet to start purchases even though cotton arrivals have started almost a month ago, Reddy said. As a result, the private traders have been exploiting the situation by offering anywhere between Rs 1,500 and Rs 3,500 a quintal, he added. He along with other leaders – P Janga Reddy, V Sanjeeva Reddy and T Sagar and scores of farmers - submitted a memorandum to the CCI Regional Officer Aditya. The farmers’ demands included – purchase of cotton irrespective of moisture content with Rs 8,000 per quintal, starting of more procurement centres, cancellation of licence of traders who resorted to illegal methods in procurement, providing a compensation of Rs 20,000 per acre to those farmers suffered crop loss due to indifferent rain pattern and procurement of cotton through IKP centres.
Source: The Hans India
Hyderabad : Keeping in view of the huge spike in cotton production this year, the Telangana Government has been taking a slew of measures to ensure cotton farmers from the state get optimum price for their produce. Towards this end, a meeting was held today at Committee Hall, State Assembly, with representatives from Ginning Mills Association. Marketing Minister T. Harish Rao, Finance Minister Etela Rajender and Industries Minister K Tarakarama Rao participated in this meeting. Addressing the representatives from Ginning Mills Association, Minister KTR said that they should come forward to extend support to the government’s endeavor to uplift the cotton farmers from the state. He also assured that the government was ready to extend all support to the ginning industry. Ravinder Reddy, President of Ginning mills Association, requested the government to release the incentives which they had to receive from the government. Ministers responded in a positive way and said incentives to the tune of Rs 100 crore will be released immediately. Utilising these incentives the mills representatives will be increasing the purchases of cotton from the farmers in the market. KTR also instructed Industries Department Principal Secretary Jayesh Ranjan to take immediate steps for revival of sick ginning mills in the state. He said that these ginning mills would be revived utilizing the incentives available under the Telangana Government’s Industrial Health Clinics. Representatives from ginning industry also appealed for waiving off electricity penalties levied by the previous governments. Responding positively to this request, KTR instructed officials to resolve the issue at the earliest. Citing his experience from one of the meetings during his Gujarat tour, Minister KT Rama Rao recalled Senthil Kumar, Chairman, South India Mills Association, terming that Telangana’s cotton is the finest in the country. He also announced that an exclusive Delint and Solvent Industrial Park would be set up in the state if ginning mills owners come forward and invest. Minister also responded positively when the industry representatives asked for an opportunity to set up companies in the upcoming Kakatiya Mega Textile Park.
Source: The Hans India
Pune: Come November 4, the Koregaon Park-based Monalisa Kalagram is set to turn into a treasure trove. The Dastkari Haat crafts festival is returning for its fourth edition in Pune. Assuring a peek into the myriad art and craft tradition unique to each state, the nine-day festival will boast of the finest handcrafted decor, textile and accessories. The festival was first established in 1986 with the aim of promoting art and culture from places across India. "Nearly 2,000 artisans are associated with us," said exhibition head Charu Verma, who has been with the samiti for 13 years. "It (the festival) will feature established artisans as well as those who are struggling to survive due to a lack of awareness of their art, due to which there are few buyers. Through this festival, we try to exhibit all types of artwork and help them gain recognition," Verma added. The venue will be home to 50 textile stalls, 40 crafts stalls and 10 traditional art stalls. Amrita Chaudhary, a weaver based in Churu, Rajasthan, will showcase his work this season, much as he's done for the last five years. This will also be his third time showcasing products in Pune. "My business has been growing ever since I started displaying my products at the exhibition," Chaudhary said. "The whole process (exhibition, sales and manufacturing) is a cycle. The more exhibitions we attend, the more customers we get, which boosts our sales. This in turn increases the number of artisans we hire," explained the weaver, who employs 400 women in his district. Apart from the monetary aspect, he said such festivals have the added benefit of promoting traditional artwork which otherwise is to a region. The Haat will feature stalls displaying kantha embroidery products from West Bengal, block prints, embroidery, weaving, ceramics and pottery from Rajasthan, Chanderi and Maheshwari from Madhya Pradesh, Banarasi weaves and chikan embroidery from Uttar Pradesh, and silver jewellery from Odisha. Alongside such delightful wares, Manganiyar singers will bring sounds from the Thar to Pune, mesmerizing their audience with Rajasthani folklore. For the gastronomes, culinary delights from Punjab, Rajasthan, and Delhi will tease the palates. "This time, we plan to bring flavours from the streets of Old Delhi, which is considered a foodie's paradise," Verma said.
Source: The Times of India
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$ 58.92 per barrel (bbl) on 30.10.2017. This was higher than the price of US$ 57.92 per bbl on previous publishing day of 27.10.2017.
In rupee terms, the price of Indian Basket increased to Rs. 3826.21 per bbl on 30.10.2017 as compared to Rs. 3770.27 per bbl on 27.10.2017. Rupee closed stronger at Rs. 64.93 per US$ on 30.10.2017 as compared to 65.09 per US$ on 27.10.2017. The table below gives details in this regard:
|
Particulars |
Unit |
Price on October 30, 2017 (Previous trading day i.e. 27.10.2017) |
|
Crude Oil (Indian Basket) |
($/bbl) |
58.92 (57.92) |
|
(Rs/bbl) |
3826.21 (3770.27) |
|
|
Exchange Rate |
(Rs/$) |
64.93 (65.09) |
Source : PIB
The Telangana government recently announced a host of measures, including a Rs 10.5-crore loan waiver, setting up of handloom and powerloom corporations, deadline of November first week for implementation of subsidy for yarn, chemicals and dyes, and administrative sanction for a handlooom park in Gadwal city, to boost the handloom sector in the state. After holding a review meeting of various initiatives of the state handloom and textiles department in Hyderabad, handloom and textiles minister KT Rama Rao instructed officials to take expedite the process of loan waiver that will benefit about 2,500 handloom weavers, according to media reports from Telangana. Each weaver will receive a loan waiver of up to Rs one lakh. A subsidy of 40 per cent is being extended to the handloom sector and 10 per cent for the powerloom sector in the State. The minister asked the officials to ramp up the Weavers’ Thrift Scheme launched recently and conduct special drives to ensure that all weavers are enrolled in this scheme. He also asked principal secretary Jayesh Ranjan and Shailaja Ramaiyer, director of handlooms and textiles, to complete the formalities for the creation of two corporations for powerloom and handloom so that necessary corpus funds could be allocated. (DS)
Source: Fibre2Fashion
Kampala — It is Oct. 17, eighteen representatives of importers from Germany are touring Fine Spinner's garment factory in Bugolobi, a Kampala suburb filming various activities and to ascertain the company's production processes and capacity. Later, they would proceed to Kasese, South Western Uganda, to locate the origin of the cotton raw materials used in the factory for the production of T-shirts for export. Stefanie Sumfleth, the head of corporate responsibility and quality management of Bonprix, one of the companies importing the T-shirts from Fine Spinners told The Independent in an interview on Oct. 17 that their intention was to shoot films to show their customers. "At the end of it all, we want to have very high quality products and that the cotton production is sustainable," she said adding, "This is very important to us as a company but at the same time we want to support the farmers not with charity but with business." Ellen Goes, a corporate responsibility officer with Witt-Gruppe, a member of Otto Group, said while they are yet to import any garment from Uganda, they are considering to do so. She said their visit was to assess the production capacity and make decisions on whether or not to import garments from the factory. Fine Spinners, which also has operations in Kenya, produces multiple bright coloured T-shirts - pink, yellow, blue and more - for export markets mainly Germany with labels 'Made in Uganda' and 'Made in Africa'. This is signalling optimism for the industry's move to recovery. Started in 2014 after a US$40 million investment in the textile factory, Fine Spinners took over the premises of the defunct Tri-Star group that closed more than a decade ago citing irredeemable logistical problems and loss making during its operations. This was followed up with the acquisition of Phenix Logistics Uganda Ltd - now under construction - from the Ugandan government in March this year for the production of mélange fabrics, which are made with more than one colour of fabrics, either by using different coloured fabrics or made with different fabrics that are then individually dyed. This is aimed at product diversification to serve various market segments. Meanwhile, in May this year, Chinese's Sunbelt Textiles Company Limited, unveiled its USUS$18 million textile factory in Jinja, eastern Uganda, producing blankets, pillow cases and bed sheets for local and regional markets. Jaswinder Bedi, the executive director at Fine Spinners, who also doubles as the chairman of the African Cotton and Textile Industry's Federation, told The Independent in an interview that Uganda's textile industry has high chances of growth due to availability of cotton countrywide. "Uganda has been exporting most of its cotton and we thought we could set up a factory here, utilise the raw materials and produce high quality garments," he said. "The production cost in this market is also still lower compared with Kenya." He said the company currently produces 400,000 T-shirts per month for export and plans to double production in the next two years to serve both the local and foreign market. He added that the company, which earned US$1.5million through the export of T-shirts last year, plans to sale 20 % of the production volumes to the local market at US$3 per T-shirt compared with US$10 for the same garment on the foreign market. "We want to ensure that the local population also buys new clothes they also deserve dignity," he said, adding that the move is also intended to re-align with the government's new policy of Buy Uganda Build Uganda. This comes at the time majority of Uganda's population are relying on second-hand clothes. At the moment, second-hand clothes account for more than 81% for the country's clothes imports, according to Andrew Brook, in his book Clothing Poverty: The Hidden World of Fashion and Second Hand Clothes. This is higher than what the entire Sub-Saharan Africa, where second hand clothes and shoes account for over 50% of the clothing market. The Ugandan government and the rest of the East African Community (EAC) states are currently determined to ban importation of second hand clothes into the bloc as a measure to promote local industries amidst complaints from US traders. In 2016, EAC, which comprises of Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan agreed to ban imports of used clothes in the region by 2019 as part of the EAC Vision 2050 and the Industrialization Policy to enhance manufacturing sector that currently contributes 8.7% to the regional Gross Domestic Product to 25% by 2032. The move, however, could also harm a multi-billion shilling group of importers.
Museveni favours local textiles
Meeting the United States Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Thomas A. Shannon, at Uganda House in New York City on Sept. 22 during the 72nd session of the United. Nations General Assembly, President Yoweri Museveni said his government is against importation of second hand clothes because it is trying to develop its textile and apparel sector. "Second hand clothes are killing the textile and apparel sector in Uganda. Industrialization of this sector is not only good for Uganda but for America as well. As partners the volume of trade grows and creates more incomes," he said. Museveni's remarks were in response to the US Trade Representatives (USTR) earlier statements saying it was reviewing trade benefits to the region under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). This was after US traders in second-hand clothes complained about EAC plan to import used clothes arguing that the move would hurt their industry and also violate AGOA rules. AGOA, which was extended last year, allows exporters from African countries that meet given terms, to export their goods into the U.S. without the usual tough restrictions. In turn, America also gets some preferential treatment of their products.
Right timing
This new development coincides with the government plans to revive its cotton industry, one of the country's foreign exchange earners in the 1970s. In addition, there has also been a surge in demand for cotton as raw materials from domestic mills and the potential to supply manufacturers producing clothes and textiles abroad. At the moment, the country produces merely 110,707 bales per annum, grown in more than 60 districts in Busoga, Bukedi, Bugisu, Teso, Lango, Acholi, West Nile, and western regions employing thousands of Ugandan households. With new investors joining the sector, amid government's commitment to inject more cash in the sector, more Ugandans are set to get jobs right from the farm and in the value adding chains. Uganda's textile industry was founded in the 1950s and 1960s, spearheaded by the Uganda Development Corporation (UDC) that worked in tandem with the international partners, such as the Calico Printers Association of the United Kingdom and Yamato International of Japan, as well as domestic partners, such as Nyanza Textile Industries Limited (NYTIL) in Jinja, Mulco Textiles in Jinja, African Textile Mills (ATM) in Mbale and Lira Spinning Mill in Lira, according to Fredrick Lugojja's background paper prepared for the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in March this year. Under the auspices of UDC, a National Textile Board was established in late 1960s to guide the development of the textile industry in the country, with a focus on import substitution. This, Lugojja said, was followed up with the nationalisation of the textile firm in 1970's and later liberalised in 1994 where government divested its shares in these textile firms. "Nevertheless, in the early 1990s, the sector collapsed under the burden of obsolete machinery and other operational constraints, especially unreliable and expensive electricity," he said. As at May this year, there were only three operational textile firms in Uganda including Southern Range Nyanza Limited, an integrated textile and garment manufacturing unit based in Njeru, Buikwe District. However, the textile firms are not operating at full installed capacity due to the high cost of production and low demand for locally produced fabrics and garments as a result of high competition from cheaper imports and second-hand clothes. As a result, domestic consumption of lint remains low, at an average of 3.3% of the total lint produced. Idle spinning capacity also exists, in the form of the non-functioning Lira Spinning Mill.
Source: AllAfrica.com
Textile-mill owners in Pakistan have expressed doubts over their government’s apparent enthusiasm to develop joint ventures (JVs) with their Chinese counterparts to boost dwindling export levels. Pakistan's textile minister, Pervaiz Malik, said at the 18th Textile Asia International Exhibition in Lahore recently that his government wants JVs with the Chinese textile sector and for his country to become a textile business hub for the Middle East, central and south Asia. However, Pakistan's textile millers say they don't see any positive outcome of the government's plans, at least in the near future, given the government's recent lack of support for the country's ailing textile sector. Anis ul Haq, secretary general of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), says that, so far, the government has not approached the textile industry to discuss its proposed plans. "We assume the government plan is just on paper and it has not done any homework on it," he says. However, he says that in April this year Chinese investors visited APTMA offices in Karachi and Lahore and showed interest in relocating their textile units to Pakistan, and also in having JVs with the Pakistani textile industry. Chen Weiming, vice-president of the visiting Tianjin People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said then that the high cost of doing business and environmental challenges in China made Pakistan an ideal destination for the relocation of the Chinese textile industry. "During the course of negotiations with them we came to know that before moving ahead further they (the Chinese) want three types of assurances from the government of Pakistan: firstly, long-term policies secondly, the establishment of special zones for the textile units and lastly economic viability, ie low cost of doing business," says Haq. Compared with other countries in the region, like India and Bangladesh, the cost of doing business in Pakistan is very high, mainly because of expensive energy, he adds. "We will welcome any move on the part of the government which is aimed at boosting the country's export sector, but before that it should consult the textile industry and other stakeholders and create an economically viable environment for foreign investors," says Ali Ehsan, an ex-chief of APTMA, Punjab zone. He believes the Chinese will do business in Pakistan only if they think it is economically viable and to their benefit, whereas Pakistanis have to mind their own interests. Therefore, to attract foreign investment, the government must reduce energy costs – a major factor responsible for inflated production costs in Pakistan. He claims energy accounts for 30-35% of total cost of production of textile industry. "Although Pakistan's law allows 100% foreign investment in the country, we don't think the Chinese will come here until and unless the government meets their three above-mentioned demands," says Haq. He maintains that in Pakistan somewhere in the region of 100 textile units have closed down during the past few years because of the high cost of doing business. "We have made an offer to them (the Chinese) to buy and run these units instead of making an investment on the relocation of their units but they have to yet to respond," adds Haq.
Source: Wtin
Shipments of non-apparel items rose 7.49 percent year-on-year to $1.51 billion in the first quarter of the fiscal year as the country is diversifying its export basket to cut reliance on garments. Tea, frozen fish, jute and jute goods, leather and leather goods, furniture, ceramics, shrimps, vegetables, bicycles and terry towel performed better in the export markets during the quarter from a year earlier. The garment sector accounts for more than 80 percent of national exports and its dominance continued in the first quarter as well, with apparel shipment fetching $7.14 billion with 7.17 percent year-on-year growth. However, with the diversification of export baskets, some sectors have been performing well. After garment, leather and leather goods came in the second spot for the last three years, earning more than $1 billion every year. “I hope the leather sector will be able to achieve the target this year too as the shipment of those goods are increasing,” said Saiful Islam, president of the Leathergoods and Footwear Manufacturers and Exporters Association of Bangladesh. The target for leather and leather goods for fiscal 2017-18 has been fixed at $1.38 billion. In the July-September period, leather and leather goods fetched $324.62 million, up 1.74 percent from a year earlier, according to data from the Export Promotion Bureau. The export of leather and leather goods declined to some extent because of relocation of tanneries from Hazaribagh to the Savar leather estate. But now, it has rebounded, after about 25 tanneries started production in the new estate at Savar, according to Islam. The shipment of leathers goods to new destinations such as Japan and Singapore, apart from the traditional markets of the EU, Canada and the US, is increasing at a faster rate, he said. The entrepreneur said leather and leather goods manufacturers are more compliant, earning the retailers' confidence. “As a result, they are coming to Bangladesh and placing an increasing number of orders.” The contribution of the non-apparel sector in the national export earning has been targeted to increase to 25 percent, according to the Seventh Five-Year Plan. Similarly, exports of frozen fish went up 23.08 percent year-on-year to $168.27 million in the first quarter thanks to favourable pricing, according to industry insiders. “The export volume of fish, especially shrimp, did not increase this season, but the prices rose as the demand for our local variety of black tiger shrimp has increased in the Western world,” said Kazi Belayet Hossain, senior vice-president of Bangladesh Frozen Foods Exporters Association. Exporters are receiving between $7.5 and $8 for every pound of shrimp, up from $5.5 to $6 a year earlier, according to Hossain. “Our frozen fish market is just rebounding after some years,” said. Export of fruits and vegetables are bouncing back after the government last month lifted nearly a year-long self-imposed ban on export of agricultural products to the EU, said Mohammad Mansur, general secretary of the Bangladesh Fruits, Vegetables & Allied Products Exporters' Association. During the ban, exporters had shipped fruits like jackfruits and mangoes in bulk as the two items were out of the purview of the initiative. The government had imposed the ban to avoid any major trade measures from the EU as questions had been raised about the quality of products of some consignments. The lifting of the ban came after the opening of a newly-constructed central packaging plant in the capital's Shyampur. “So, our export is growing again,” Mansur added. Jute and jute goods export increased 15.46 percent year-on-year to $236.12 million. Industry people said the demand for jute and jute goods items increased in the once war-torn Middle Eastern countries.
Source: The Daily Star
ShanghaiTex 2017 will have a mega display of the latest and sustainable denim manufacturing technologies and applications related to Industry 4.0. The four-day show is slated to begin on November 27, 2017 in Pudong, Shanghai. Denim production involves large amount of wastewater discharge with high concentrations of pollutants from denim dyeing and finishing. A special denim theme zone - Eco-Denim Centre - will be newly featured at Shanghaitex 2017. A series of new and greenovation technologies including dyes, additives, textile chemicals denim finishing equipment and laser processing, tailoring equipment will be showcased. The new denim zone has received substantial support from renowned exhibitors including GBOS, Kasu, Suwei, DaFang, XinXiangLian, Jhx and KingFull. GBOS Laser Technology will showcase the INC.3D Laser Washing System. This is a 3D laser dynamic scanner, the laser beam is projected onto the surface of the work piece and produces a variety of clear and realistic images. It completely subverts and replaces the traditional washing process, so as to achieve the green transformation and upgrading. Also, Wuhan Jin Haoxing Laser has launched its latest machine JHX-160100 Double Heads Mutual Moving Laser Cutting Machine. To address the market needs, this machine is marked at a reasonable price to achieve double efficiency. The advantages of this machine include: smooth edges, surface polishing, noiseless, dust-free, high accuracy, high precision, high efficiency, reduction of waste water and the use of chemical reagents etc. ShanghaiTex, as the best trading and networking occasion for industrial elites in the textile industry, is likely to attract leading denim and jeans brands, industry players and organisations. Denim manufacturing enterprises will explore new business network and opportunities. In addition to machinery display, a special display gallery – Denim Chic - will also be found at the show with the latest applications of new technologies from denim clothing enterprises. High-caliber experts from around the world are also invited by the show organiser to share their insight at the seminar, "Denim Masterminds", on the challenges and opportunities of the denim industry and introduce the latest technology, eco-friendly and fashionable production solutions.
Source: Fibre2Fashion
A LARGE-scale trial of dryland cotton has been planted near Horsham this year to test the summer crop in the west Victorian climate. It’s an extraordinary development for the cotton industry, which is extending further south and comes after The Weekly Times revealed irrigated cotton plantings in the NSW Riverina this season are tipped to soar 53 per cent on last year. Cotton Seed Distributors extension and development agronomist for Southern NSW and Victoria Jorian Millyard said other summer crops such as dryland sorghum were already grown in the region, so cotton was seen as another summer crop opportunity. Mr Millyard said 60 hectares of cotton had been planted at the property west of Horsham following a smaller two-hectare trial last season. He said the cotton crop was planted late this year because of the wet winter and spring and the crop had to be hand harvested and fibre quality was an issue. “This year he’s still got a full profile of moisture, he increased to 60ha and that encourages someone to come and pick it for him.” Mr Millyard said it was the only dryland crop of cotton grown in Victoria. “The gross margins stack up quite well for cotton against sorghum for him,” he said. The farmer, who did not wish to be named, said it was an “outside-of-the-box trial”. Monsanto southern NSW regional business manager Luke Sampson said there would also be a small trial of irrigated cotton between Serpentine and Boort.
Source: Weekly Times
Vietnam economy, business news, vn news, vietnamnet bridge, english news, Vietnam news, news Vietnam, vietnamnet news, vn news, Vietnam net news, Vietnam latest news, Vietnam breaking news, H&M, fast fashion, K&K. Unlike other businessmen, Le Viet Thanh, CEO of K&K Fashion, doesn’t think foreign fashion brands will ‘choke Vietnamese brands to death’. “The domestic fashion market has different segments with diverse needs. So, foreign fashion brands, though powerful, won’t be able to satisfy all the demands. Vietnamese brands still have their positions in the market if they have distinct products and can find niche markets,” he said, adding that local companies understand Vietnamese taste and can design products that fit Vietnamese. The niche market for Michiko, for example, is high-end fashion for women aged over 30, priced at VND1.5-2.5 million. This group of customers likes special styles and original models. Many foreign fashion brands have entered the Vietnamese market, creating stiff competition in the market for local brands. Luu Nga, CEO of Elisa, commented that Vietnamese fashion industry can satisfy customers’ requirements on design and quality, and that Vietnamese brands can compete with foreigners. Viet Tien Garment has been expanding its retail network with 650 shops, while An Phuoc has 115. Blue Exchange has 200 shops, Elisa 70 and Canifa 100. The brands have seen revenue increasing directly proportional to network expansion. K&K reported a 50 percent growth rate, An Phuoc 15-17 percent and Garment No 10 22-25 percent. Some Vietnamese brands have been succeeding in niche markets with self-designed products targeting middle-class and high income earners such as Cashew, Labella, Kelly Bui, Marc, Dotty, Camellia and Mora. Hoang Thanh Tu, the owner of Mora, said that many Vietnamese fashion brands are now confident enough to join the international market and participate in fashion weeks in the US, South Korea and Japan. Mora’s showrooms in Nha Trang and Da Nang show that it has stable and loyal clients. IVY Moda, which develops high-end fast fashion products, has launched IVY Men and is going to launch IVY Kid in the time to come. Meanwhile, a NEM representative said NEM’s advantage lies in 10 factories and thousands of skilled workers. Doan Bich Ngoc, CEO of Canifa, commented that while foreign brands pay attention to color and pattern, Canifa focuses on developing products with longer life made of good material. Vietnamese brands also have advantages in branding. Elisa tends to fund pageant contests, while Canifa sponsors Project Runway and Vietnam Next Top Model TV shows and Marc supports Fashion In Me competition.
Source: VietNamNet
Women pick cotton in Uzbekistan’s part of the Ferghana Valley. Uzbek authorities appear to be mulling doing away with forced labor in cotton fields, but some experts say for that to happen, a total overhaul of the cotton sector is needed. (Photo: Peretz Partensky via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0) Uzbekistan’s government has traditionally characterized cotton-picking as hashar, “If you refuse to work in the cotton fields, it is almost as if you are a traitor. … Everybody has to obey,” a schoolteacher in Uzbekistan a term for voluntary labor that Uzbeks are expected to undertake for the good of the community. In practice, the concept has provided a way for authorities to cast its use of forced labor in the best possible light. told a human rights group this spring. Now it appears that Uzbek authorities are rethinking their use of forced labor, even mulling doing away with the practice altogether. But some experts say for that to happen, a total overhaul of the cotton sector is needed. Driving teachers, doctors and students out of hospitals, schools and universities and into the cotton fields had been standard practice throughout Uzbekistan’s 26 years of independence. So many were astonished in September, when Tashkent suddenly ordered them home mid-harvest. The government is presenting this as a prelude to the total abolition of forced agricultural labor that Uzbekistan – the world’s fifth-largest cotton exporter – has long relied upon. The recall of some forced laborers came weeks after the government issued a decreecategorically banning the use of children, along with education and healthcare workers, in the harvest. And it was two days after President Shavkat Mirziyoyev admitted to the world at the United Nations General Assembly that forced labor exists in Uzbekistan. Cotton has acquired almost existential value for the Uzbek economy – so much so that it has long been dubbed “white gold.” This year’s harvest season began like any other. In the spirit of hashar, the government enlistedcelebrities like the singers Yulduz Usmonova and Shahzoda to help with the harvest. Photos onInstagram show the smiling stars romping among the cotton rows and enjoying a slap-up meal with fans. Tashkent’s change of heart appears motivated by the desire of Mirziyoyev, who has shown reforming zeal since coming to power last year, to improve Uzbekistan’s image in the eyes of the international investor community. The deployment of forced labor and child labor has over the years prompted major international retailers to boycott Uzbek cotton. Yet as Uzbekistan wins plaudits, rights campaigners are warning that the cotton must still be picked. So who is doing it? The burden is simply shifting to other forced laborers, Umida Niyazova, director of the Berlin-based Uzbek-German Forum for Human Rights, or UGF, told EurasiaNet.org. “Ultimately it turns out that when one population group – students – is freed from cotton picking, the burden falls on other population groups,” Niyazova said. The UGF continues to report multiple cases of forced labor and says some recalled pickers had to pay for replacements out of their own pockets, despite government warnings that this practice was to be proscribed. Nevertheless, there are signs that Tashkent has started to get serious about forced labor. “We’ve seen a significant shift this year,” said Jonas Astrup, chief technical advisor in Uzbekistan for the International Labor Organization (ILO), which is monitoring the harvest and working with the government to end forced labor. Tashkent is demonstrating “a genuine willingness” to address forced labor through reforms that are “ambitious yet realistic,” Astrup told EurasiaNet.org. The reform plan has two main pillars: mechanizing the harvest and increasing rates paid to cotton-pickers to attract more voluntary workers. Cotton-pickers are currently paid 700 sums (9 cents) per kilogram (800 in some regions) for the back-breaking work. That might sound like a pittance, but it is on a par with salaries in other unskilled sectors in Uzbekistan – and it is 146 percent more than what was being offered last year. The state-set purchase rate paid to farmers has also increased to 3.4 million sums ($420) per ton — a 56-percent increase on 2016. This is significant, since an ILO study has found that eliminating forced labor would be “entirely manageable” through changes to recruitment and employment practices. Around two-thirds of the 3.7 million people involved in Uzbekistan’s 2015 harvest were already voluntary, often rural women seeking an earnings boost, according to the research. The other third were “reluctant” (20 percent, perceiving “social pressure”) or “involuntary” (14 percent, picking cotton because of a “perceived risk” of dismissal, wage cuts and harassment or their inability to pay for a replacement worker), the study noted. The study assessed that 1.7 million people would willingly pick cotton in the future without changes to conditions, that 1.2 million more would pick for better pay, and that 476,000 would do so given improved conditions in the cotton fields. In officials’ most optimistic view, mass labor will gradually be phased out. The government has set the goal of mechanizing 80 percent of the harvest by 2022. That is an ambitious target given that current levels are close to zero. And Tashkent has already missed a target declared by Mirziyoyev, when he was still only prime minister, to have up to 90 percent mechanized by 2016. Uzbekistan possesses only 1,000 of the 14,000-15,000 harvesters required, so it plans to ramp up output from this year’s 1,500 to 10,000 by 2019 – an eyebrow-raising 566-percent increase. In the Soviet era, Uzbekistan was awash with cotton harvesters. But mechanization still flopped, largely because central planning overrode realities on the ground, according to research by Professor Richard Pomfret of the University of Adelaide. Tashkent sees mechanization as a magic wand, but “it just seems very illusory to think you’re going to tell people they have to mechanize. You can give them the machines — that was the Soviet situation — and they don’t use them,” Pomfret told EurasiaNet.org. “Top-down planning is what the region is supposed to have moved away from.” Mechanization is usually driven by market economics, when rising wages make machine-harvesting cheaper. That is not the case in Uzbekistan. There will also be a trade-off in quality with the transition to mechanization, which reaps lower-quality cotton. Currently, 30 percent of cotton is machine-picked worldwide, and only in Australia, Israel and the United States is harvesting fully mechanized. A World Bank study has found that Uzbekistan’s cotton-pickers widely believed “mechanization will negatively impact their livelihood,” with women “particularly concerned”. It also found some farmers supporting mechanization, but others believing their cotton-growing land would be unsuitable. The World Bank supports Uzbekistan’s mechanization drive “as a way to improve the overall productivity of the cotton sector,” a representative for the bank told EurasiaNet.org. It is funding projects to adapt Uzbekistan’s cotton industry to mechanized harvesting, and diversify agriculture away from cotton by planting more fruit and vegetables – a government priority. The real answer to forced labor, say campaigners, is reforming the state cotton-sector monopoly, under which the government obliges farmers to grow at state-set quotas and sell at fixed prices. Tashkent accumulates the profits in a government fund “which lacks transparency and is only accountable to a narrow circle within the national leadership,” according to a report published by the Open Society Foundations. Uzbekistan may be taking “effective measures” to eradicate forced labor, as Mirziyoyev told the UN last month, but campaigners say the true test will be seen in the tangible results on the ground. “For now there are no signs of the government really liberating the cotton sector,” Niyazova said. “Nothing is being said about removing quotas and the state cotton-picking plan, the state monopoly remains [and] nothing is being said about giving farmers the freedom to choose to sow cotton or not.” Editor's note: Joanna Lillis is a freelance writer who specializes in Central Asia.
Source : Eurasianet.org,
SHANGHAI, Oct. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- The biennial signature event of textile industry in China - The 18th Shanghai International Exhibition on Textile Industry (ShanghaiTex 2017) will be held at Shanghai New International Expo Center from 27 - 30 November, 2017. ShanghaiTex 2017 will unveil a parade of "Textile for Smarter Future" with the foothold onChina and global vision, accommodating over 1,200 exhibitors. The expected 103,500+ sqm exhibiting area covers 5 thematic zones: Spinning & Techtextile Machinery, Weaving Machinery, Knitting & Hosiery Machinery, Printing/Dyeing/Finishing/Digital Printing Machinery, and Spare Parts & Accessories. Textile industry is undergoing a revolution in technology and production. ShanghaiTex 2017 brings together technical seminars, networking events as well as new product & technology releases, offering industry players an effective technological exchange and learning platform. Hot topics include:
Textile Industry 4.0 Forum
The Textile Challenge: Finding Denim
The Sports Bra-ology
Wearable Technology X Textile Design Competition: Final & Award Ceremony
Denim Mastermind Seminar
Buyer's Forum: MARKS & SPENCER - Plan A 2025
Smart Textile Innovation Forum
Megatrends in Digital Printing
The Evolution of Sports Shoe Tech
Being the most established and professional textile machinery exhibition of its kind in China since 1984, ShanghaiTex has won the affirmation and support of industry professionals by its rich experience, wide coverage, abundant resources, and significant effect. Many renowned buyers have confirmed to participate, including Marks & Spencer, Nike, H&M, GAP, VFC, TUMI, etc. ShanghaiTex 2017 has gained active support from numerous textile and garment associations from Mainland China, including Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, Korea, Malaysia, India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, etc., who will also visit the show. In order to provide a better experience to industry players, on-site business matching service will be set up to line up buyers with machinery manufacturers, traders, brands or OEMs based on their purchasing needs, so as to create enormous business opportunities for both parties.
Source: Business insider
China's Belt and Road Initiative will greatly benefit the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), especially in infrastructure development, officials and academics said at a symposium. The Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road initiative, known as the Belt and Road Initiative, was proposed by China in 2013 with the aim of building a trade, investment, and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along the ancient trade routes. Since ASEAN needs huge capital to realize its Master Plan on Connectivity, the Belt and Road Initiative, supported by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and the Silk Road Fund, will provide great benefits to ASEAN, Lawmaker Suos Yara, vice-chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly's Foreign Affairs Commission, said at a Belt and Road symposium in Phnom Penh Monday. A recent report by United Nations Conference on Trade and Development showed that ASEAN would need infrastructure investment of $60 billion to $146 billion per annum up until 2025. "China has been playing a very active role in building and upgrading physical infrastructure in the region through many initiatives, especially the Belt and Road Initiative," he said. Mey Kalyan, senior advisor to the Supreme National Economic Council of Cambodia, said the initiative linked very well with the ASEAN Master Plan on Connectivity that would create vast opportunities for ASEAN and China to cooperate and serve as engines for future development and prosperity. "Among the ASEAN member states, particularly Cambodia, construction and upgrading of infrastructure such as roads, ports and airports are a must," he said at the symposium that was attended by some 200 people, including Cambodian government officials, policy makers, academics and researchers. "Improved infrastructure is essential for sustaining economic growth as it enhances logistical efficiency, reduces transaction costs and supports greater flow of trade and investment," he added. Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Xiong Bo said China regarded ASEAN as a key region in advancing the Belt and Road cooperation. "The connectivity cooperation between China and ASEAN countries including Cambodia is highly compatible with ASEAN Connectivity," he said. "China-ASEAN Belt and Road cooperation is enjoying broad prospects and huge potential." For Cambodia in particular, Xiong said China and Cambodia shared similar development strategies and have huge potential in cooperation fields such as infrastructure, connectivity, trade and investment. Song Guoyou, director of Economic Diplomacy Studies Center of Fudan University, said the Belt and Road Initiative would promote regional economic integration and deeper globalization. "It will also contribute to upholding regional peace and stability," he said. Neak Chandarith, director of the Cambodia 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Research Center at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said the Belt and Road Initiative would provide new sources of capital for all participating countries, especially ASEAN nations, for infrastructure development. "For Cambodia, it stands to benefit enormously from the Belt and Road Initiative, mainly in economic development, transports infrastructure, tourism and people-to-people connectivity," he said. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Source: China Daily.
MULTAN: Parliamentary Secretary for Ministry of Science and Technology Malik Abdul Ghaffar Dogar assured local businessmen and value-added sector of addressing their grievances on a priority basis, while addressing a reception hosted by the All Pakistan Bedsheet and Upholstry Manufacturers Association (APBUMA). Increasing trade: Govt contemplating FTA with South Pacific countriesAPBUMA Chairman Syed Muhammad Aasim Shah proposed the government to release funds to the central bank for immediate payment of duty drawback of taxes to the exporters as the immediate payment of all outstanding refunds of sales tax ‘could save the industry’. Shah said that the value-added textile sector appreciates the government for accepting its genuine demand to provide 50% of the export package’s incentive for eligible textile and non-textile sectors on the same terms as for the period from Jan to June, 2017 without condition of increment.
Source: Tribune
