Textiles Industry to be the Driver of Manufacturing and Employment Generations: Chairman AEPC

AEPC organized its annual export award function 2013 for outstanding export performance for the year 2012-13, at apparel house, Gurgaon. Dr. K S Rao, Union Textiles Minister, came to deliver awards in presence of Smt. Zohra Chatterji, the Guest of Honour, Senior Officials of Govt. Of India, Officials of AEPC and the captains of the garment Industry were also present.

Speaking on the occasion Dr. Rao said, “The apparel sector has earned Rs. 49,200 crores forex in April-October, 2013, showing a growth of 26% over the same period during year 2012. Income in both the currencies i.e. INR and US$ are buoyant. In dollar terms, the growth is 15.5% (US$ 8.2 billion) during the same period. I am confident that we are on the road to recovery. Signs of its revival are visible in USA & EU, which guided my instinct to revise the apparel export target to USD 17 Billion during the current Financial Year. Let’s keep a high target in next year. I am sure the industry will compensate its deficit and shall try to reach US $ 60 billion in the next 3 years.”

During his address, Union Textiles Minister informed that, “During the 12th Five Year Plan, I had emphasized for ensuring raw material safety through National Fibre Policy, Technology Mission on cotton, towards modernization, skill & financial support, etc. I also laid stress for the continuation of TUFS in 12th Plan, Integrated Textile Parks, Integrated Skill Development Scheme, DISHA and even Knitwear Technology Mission under product development have been finalized as Government Policy. The Integrated Skill Development Scheme includes leveraging on the existing strong institutions and training experience within the Ministry and ensuring private sector participation through a PPP model.”

Underlining the key objectives of 12th five Year Plan, Shri Rao said, achieving annual average growth rate of 11.5% in volume terms in cloth production, Increase domestic value addition and technological depth, training of 35 lakh persons, additional employment to 15.81 million workers by 2016-17, etc are the key priorities. Minister also underlined need to need to innovate and explore new non-traditional markets like Israel, Russia, Brazil and Japan etc. The new markets should be perceived actually as a new growth opportunity.

Applauding the efforts made by awardees for boosting exports, for achieving excellence in their performance Dr. Rao attributes this achievement is the combined efforts of entrepreneurs, support of valued buyers, hard work put in by the workers coupled with cohesive policies framed by Government.

Chairman AEPC, Dr. A Sakthivel, highlighted the role the apparel industry in lieu of 43.20 billion US $ target for a strong textile value chain and exports growth. The apparel export industry has the responsibility of contributing around 40% this. In view of the conducive environment and signs of revival in major US & EU markets Chairman added that AEPC shall do it but to achieve the revised target.

Dr. Sakthivel once again raised the request of apparel exporters for 5% Duty Credit Scrip for import of those fabrics which are not widely available in India. Chairman emphasized, “This proposal has been discussed with our Ministry, DGFT, Ministry of Commerce, Cabinet Secretary, NMCC, Ministry of Finance and everybody is not only supporting us for this proposal, rather they have appreciated our innovative proposal. In such a time, when buyers are forced to divert orders from China and Bangladesh, we need this urgently.”

Smt. Zohra Chatterji, Secretary (Textiles) in her remark stated that, “In order to expand the horizons of textile and apparel industry, a large number of initiatives have been taken in consultation with the various stakeholders. We want you to exert more and clock USD 17 billion dollars exports during 2013-14 and develop capabilities to raise the exports to the level of US $ 60 billion in next 3 financial years.” The garment sector needs to identify key areas to work on, focus their energies on evolving new markets, establishing brand India and partnering with Skills training institutions for enhancing the skill base of our industry in view of the demands that growth will generate, she added. The Joint Secretary, Smt. Monika S. Garg, Ms. Sunaina Tomar, Smt. Pushpa Subrahmanyam and Shri Sujit Gulati were also present for the function and they expressed solidarity and support for the apparel export Industry.

The exports awards were given by Union Textiles Minister in the following categories: Highest Unit Value Exporter, Highest Exports by Young Entrepreneur, Highest Exports by Woman Entrepreneur, Highest Exports, Blended Fabric Garments, Highest Exports in MMF Garments, Highest Exports in Cotton Garments, Highest Exports in Woven Garments, Highest Exports in Knitted Garments, Highest Exports by Merchant Exporter, Highest Exports by Manufacturer Exporter, Highest Group Employment Provider, Highest Exports in Focus Countries, etc.

The event also witness unveiling of Global date book of AEPC’s Export promotion Events 2014-15 by Hon’ble Minister for Textiles and a study on competiveness. All the EC members along with the senior officials of the Government of India also attended the function.

Textile export policy emphasizes export growth and competitiveness through incentives, skill development and trade facilitation measures. Government policy priorities under the 12th Five Year Plan concentrate on raw material security, modernization, technology missions and skill development to boost apparel manufacturing and exports. Core measures include continuation of TUFS, Integrated Textile Parks, a Technology Mission on cotton, product development initiatives and an Integrated Skill Development Scheme via PPP. Competitiveness actions include pursuit of revised export targets, market diversification and a requested 5% Duty Credit Scrip for import of fabrics not widely available domestically.