India to expedite measures to boost apparel exports

On the backdrop of recent fall in volumes of apparel exports to the US and the European Union, the centre is all set to take expedite measures to boost the textile industry, while the government has expressed confidence to attain its $18 billion target or Rs 99, 000 crore for this FY 2012-13, which is about 32% rise year-on-year to that of $13.6 billion achieved in FY 2011-12.

Union Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, V Srinivas urged the industry to explore the duty benefit to Japan and EU markets and also to focus on market penetration to the existing markets. The ministry confirmed that it is planning out two-efficient strategies so as to accelerate apparel exports in the short-term and medium-term, keeping in view that readymade garments segment has a huge potential to increase the market share in traditional and new markets worldwide.

The sector has the potential to create one million jobs for an investment of $1 billion (Rs 5, 500 crore). The ministry has also affirmed that the enhancement of technology up gradation funding scheme to Rs 15,808 crore in the sector is in pipeline, anticipating an investment of Rs 150,000 crore over the next five years. An integrated skill development scheme will also be launched to train the workforce for operating sewing machines, it added.

The government had also ensured expansion of capacities around the apparel hub of Tirupur in Tamil Nadu as well as in Ludhiana and Kolkata. It also agreed to make labor laws more flexible so as to scale up manufacturing base.