“We will do our utmost within our constitutional framework to strengthen the textile industry. In the wake of demonetisation, the Textile Ministry has helped open five lakh bank accounts for associated workers in the industry in a period of three weeks. We are also ensuring that the workers are trained to digitally use their bank accounts,” said Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Textile at Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) 2015-16 Awards for Excellence in Global Exporters in Apparel Sector. Irani also encouraged AEPC and garment exporters to be a partner in the Governments efforts towards job creation through value driven manufacturing and exports.
She added, “To further promote exports, there should an award for the best player in emerging market in the next award season. Industry should also head towards sustainable garments from an international perspective; and should look for innovation either in marketing or technology. We need to strengthen the textile industry.” She presented the awards comprising twenty one categories. The award categories have been diversified into further segmentation to encourage the SME sector. Minister of State of Textiles, Ajay Tamta; and Chairman AEPC, Ashok G Rajani; along with the other executive members and government officials from various ministries were also present at the event to showcase commitment towards strengthening India’s apparel export industry.
“AEPC Export awards extend across diverse categories and include both experienced and start-up representations. The awards have been instituted with the aim to encourage Indian Apparel exporters to increase their export capacities and enhance competitiveness amongst firms to capture the global markets. We have an ambitious target for export and job creation in the next three years - I call upon the winners to be mentors to the start ups and SMEs in this sector and together strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem,” said Ashok.
India’s garment exports had been facing problem of stagnation since last year, due to depressed market conditions in the major markets like USA and EU. However, since the announcement of the Rs6000 Crore special package in June 2016, there has been some optimism in the industry, and exports have picked up. garment sector alone accounted for more than 47 per cent share in all textile goods exports from India to world. India exported worth of USD 10.96 billion garments to world during the April-Nov 2016. In the last fiscal India’s garment exports were to the tune of USD 16.9 billion.