Thursday, November 19, 2009
India : Panipat handloom sector begs for Govt support - Textile News India
Handloom exports from Panipat in the state of Haryana slipped down in the fiscal 2008-09 due to lack of technical expertise. Growth of Panipat handloom industry is being stifled as the state government has not taken any concrete steps to develop a special cluster for handloom units in the town since establishment of the industry. Handloom units keep on operating in scattered areas in the town, said Mr. Ramesh Verma, President of the Handloom Exports Manufacturers Association (HEMA), Panipat, which has been demanding a specific area and necessary infrastructure for the exporters in handloom industry, so that these units can work jointly and witness development.HEMA is among the largest handloom manufacturers associations in Panipat having around 1,200 members. Handloom industry that has offered international recognition to Panipat is facing challenges to acquire competitive stand in the global market just because the government has not offered technical knowledge to the manufacturers on quality control measures and the value-added products, which are essential factors to cater to the global markets. There are about 2,000 handloom units in the medium and small sector producing durries, mats, table covers, bed sheets, curtains and carpets, actively, revealed the records of industries department.Variety of products are manufactured mainly on three types of looms; Frame looms, Jacquard Looms and Pit Looms, which are used to produce plain as well as striped fabrics, designer fabrics and heavy fabrics, respectively.The manufactured products are sold in domestic as well as international markets such as the US, Australia, Japan, Canada, Germany and Malaysia. Handloom exports from Panipat soared up from Rs. 6.8 billion in 1999-2000 to Rs 30 billion in 2007-08, as per industries department’s records.However, in the year 2008-09, these exports dropped down to Rs. 28.4 billion due to recession. Handloom manufacturers see the prospects of recovery if they receive required support from the government. Government needs to guide these manufacturers for the kind of products they need to produce and for quality maintenance of the product, to make these manufacturers competitive on the global platform, said Mr. Ram Pratap, Executive Member of HEMA.Grievances of the weavers in Panipat have not been addressed as well as there are no proper educational and medical facilities for weavers and their families, said Mr. Verma. Many weavers here are the migrants from different states such as Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and are employed on contractual wages or piece rate basis.
India : 3 more apparel training centres to be set up in Orissa - Apparel News India
Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) will establish three more Apparel Training and Design Centres (ATDC) soon in Orissa, under the aegis of the Union Ministry of Textiles and the State Government at Baripada, Cuttack and Sambalpur. Youth class of rural area will receive training on garment making and several other textile-related works in these proposed centres to be opened under the Skill Development Project (SDP) of the AEPC.Currently, there are three ATDCs at Bhubaneswar, Berhampur and Rourkela administrated by AEPC with 100 percent placement guarantee. Considering the requirement of skilled persons in domestic as well as export oriented apparel industries, the government is planning to set up more such training centres. As per Ms. Lopamudra Das, Head of the Bhubaneswar center, almost all the passed out students of Bhubaneswar centre have been recruited in reputed garment companies.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
India : ATMA urges withdrawal of hike in entry tax on textiles - Textile News India
From September 14, 2009, entry tax on textiles and all the allied products in Assam has been increased to 4 percent, which was 1 percent, earlier. The Assam Textile Merchants’ Association (ATMA) has urged the state Government to remove this hike in entry tax.
Cloth and textiles in all the adjacent states of the north eastern region and West Bengal are free from entry tax. So, if the entry tax on Assamese textiles is not removed, the textile business of the state will experience negative effects and will shift to the states free from entry tax, said the PRO, ATMA, Mr. Nirmal Samsukha, in a press conference.
Any kind of hike in the entry tax will prove to be detrimental for the lakhs of people directly or indirectly dependent on textile business which might worsen state’s unemployment situation, added Mr. Samsukha.
This tax hike on fabrics will impact local people also, who are already bearing the damaging effects of inflation, as their expenses on basic needs will go up due to price hike in all kinds of fabrics and clothing.
A memorandum requesting the withdrawal of this tax has been submitted to the Chief Minister and the Commissioner of Taxes by a team of ATMA. Another delegation of the Association had also met the government authorities earlier, with the same request, when one percent tax was imposed on textiles.
Cloth and textiles in all the adjacent states of the north eastern region and West Bengal are free from entry tax. So, if the entry tax on Assamese textiles is not removed, the textile business of the state will experience negative effects and will shift to the states free from entry tax, said the PRO, ATMA, Mr. Nirmal Samsukha, in a press conference.
Any kind of hike in the entry tax will prove to be detrimental for the lakhs of people directly or indirectly dependent on textile business which might worsen state’s unemployment situation, added Mr. Samsukha.
This tax hike on fabrics will impact local people also, who are already bearing the damaging effects of inflation, as their expenses on basic needs will go up due to price hike in all kinds of fabrics and clothing.
A memorandum requesting the withdrawal of this tax has been submitted to the Chief Minister and the Commissioner of Taxes by a team of ATMA. Another delegation of the Association had also met the government authorities earlier, with the same request, when one percent tax was imposed on textiles.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Pakistan : Korea to help set up garment training centre - Apparel News Pakistan
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between Pakistan and Korea to set up a Garment Technology Training Centre (GTTC) in Karachi in order to make country’s textile and apparel industry more competitive.
Korean Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Shin Un and Secretary Ministry of Textile Industry, Mr. Waqar Masood Khan signed this MoU, according to which, infrastructure of the training centre would be established by the Pakistan government while Korea would provide the machinery and expertise.
This Garment Technology Training Centre will impart vocational training in five areas including, garment technology, knitwear technology, apparel marketing, line supervisor and sewing machine operators. The centre would also offer short and tailor-made courses to cater the needs of garment industry.
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) would provide necessary equipments, machinery, experts and technical guidance required to the centre, along with $1.5 million for three years. Government of Pakistan would also be bearing some of the expenses of the project, through Public Sector Development Program.
The institute will prop up country’s textile and apparel industry to improve its competitiveness by providing training facilities and technical expertise in value added area of garment technology as skill development and capacity building are the fundamental components of recently announced Textile Policy 2009-10, stated country’s Federal Minister.
This policy aims to train 0.5 million workers in coming five years, while Government of Pakistan is making all possible efforts to also, attract handicapped and women workers in the industry.
Korean Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr. Shin Un and Secretary Ministry of Textile Industry, Mr. Waqar Masood Khan signed this MoU, according to which, infrastructure of the training centre would be established by the Pakistan government while Korea would provide the machinery and expertise.
This Garment Technology Training Centre will impart vocational training in five areas including, garment technology, knitwear technology, apparel marketing, line supervisor and sewing machine operators. The centre would also offer short and tailor-made courses to cater the needs of garment industry.
Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) would provide necessary equipments, machinery, experts and technical guidance required to the centre, along with $1.5 million for three years. Government of Pakistan would also be bearing some of the expenses of the project, through Public Sector Development Program.
The institute will prop up country’s textile and apparel industry to improve its competitiveness by providing training facilities and technical expertise in value added area of garment technology as skill development and capacity building are the fundamental components of recently announced Textile Policy 2009-10, stated country’s Federal Minister.
This policy aims to train 0.5 million workers in coming five years, while Government of Pakistan is making all possible efforts to also, attract handicapped and women workers in the industry.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
India : Handicrafts fair generates business worth Rs 7.5 billion - Textile News India
Despite the current economic atmosphere, a four-day handicraft exposition, ‘The Indian Handicrafts and Gifts Fair (IHGF) Autumn 2009’generated business of Rs. 7.5 billion.
The fair had witnessed numbers of international buyers and received many orders for the handicraft products, said EPCH chairman Mr. Raj Kumar Malhotra during concluding session of the event.
He cited this demand growth as the spin in handicraft sector because last year’s business of the exposition stood at around Rs. 5.25 billion.
The expositions, which are organized by EPCH, are held twice a year in the months of February and October and known as IHGF Spring and IHGF Autumn.
The fair had witnessed numbers of international buyers and received many orders for the handicraft products, said EPCH chairman Mr. Raj Kumar Malhotra during concluding session of the event.
He cited this demand growth as the spin in handicraft sector because last year’s business of the exposition stood at around Rs. 5.25 billion.
The expositions, which are organized by EPCH, are held twice a year in the months of February and October and known as IHGF Spring and IHGF Autumn.
Friday, November 13, 2009
India : Govt to increase stipend of handicraft trainees - Textile News India
Government of Jammu & Kashmir would take all possible efforts to strengthen state’s handicraft sector, stated Chief Minister Mr. Omer Abdullah while announcing the raise in stipend of trainees in handicraft centers of the state.
Following the proposal from Ministry of Commerce and Industries, the Chief Minister agreed to increase the stipend during the inaugural ceremony of the Craft Museum School of Designs (CMSD), of the handicraft department, set up at a cost of 27.6 million.
The Chief Minister assured artisans and the people associated with the handicraft sector that the state government will organize various international handicraft exhibitions, conduct more buyer seller meets and take all efforts required to prop-up the handicraft industry.
He added that the handicraft products of the state are very unique, many of which are being copied; hence there is a need to preserve this enchanting skill.
He further emphasized on the proper utilization of Geographical Indication status of Pashmina, Sozni and Kani in order to protect these crafts as many products are being sold as Made in Kashmir products, for instance, machine made Amritsar shawls are labeled as Kashmiri item while the Nepali shawls are tagged as Kashmir Pashmina.
The CM suggested the authorities to make the museum a tourist stopover and impose entry tax on the visitor to tackle maintenance expenses. Children should also be encouraged to visit this institution in order to make them interact with art and the artists, he added.
Effective actions would be taken against the unscrupulous elements who sell their items under the name of Kashmiri products, said a former Minister, who urged the CM to revise the current honorarium for trainees.
Handicraft exports plummeted to Rs. 7 billion this year, however, they are expected to see heights again and reach up to Rs. 12 billion.
The museum will be linked with all the museums across the country and it would prove to be a tourist itinerary, where state’s art can be introduced to the outside world, said the Director handicrafts Mr. Showkat Ahmed Zargar.
Following the proposal from Ministry of Commerce and Industries, the Chief Minister agreed to increase the stipend during the inaugural ceremony of the Craft Museum School of Designs (CMSD), of the handicraft department, set up at a cost of 27.6 million.
The Chief Minister assured artisans and the people associated with the handicraft sector that the state government will organize various international handicraft exhibitions, conduct more buyer seller meets and take all efforts required to prop-up the handicraft industry.
He added that the handicraft products of the state are very unique, many of which are being copied; hence there is a need to preserve this enchanting skill.
He further emphasized on the proper utilization of Geographical Indication status of Pashmina, Sozni and Kani in order to protect these crafts as many products are being sold as Made in Kashmir products, for instance, machine made Amritsar shawls are labeled as Kashmiri item while the Nepali shawls are tagged as Kashmir Pashmina.
The CM suggested the authorities to make the museum a tourist stopover and impose entry tax on the visitor to tackle maintenance expenses. Children should also be encouraged to visit this institution in order to make them interact with art and the artists, he added.
Effective actions would be taken against the unscrupulous elements who sell their items under the name of Kashmiri products, said a former Minister, who urged the CM to revise the current honorarium for trainees.
Handicraft exports plummeted to Rs. 7 billion this year, however, they are expected to see heights again and reach up to Rs. 12 billion.
The museum will be linked with all the museums across the country and it would prove to be a tourist itinerary, where state’s art can be introduced to the outside world, said the Director handicrafts Mr. Showkat Ahmed Zargar.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Indonesia : Handicrafts made by physically disabled given prominence at fair - Textile News Indonesia
The East Java administration has been involving physically handicapped producers in the local handicrafts and batik industry as a measure to boost the industry and to ride out the global financial meltdown.
The East Java Festival, organized from October 3 to 12 in Surabaya, also exhibits handicrafts and batik items produced by students of special schools for handicaps. Over 100 small and medium enterprises took part in the festival organized for 10 days.
In order to highlight the efforts of this province toward greater business equality, the handicraft products produced by the physically challenged people were displayed in the festival.
Governor Soekarwo believes handicrafts and batik are mainstays of the local economy. East Java has a rich batik culture, concentrated in Madura, Sidoarjo, Surabaya, Tuban and Gresik, stated the Governor.
He further added that he will make all regency and municipal heads to gather new data of all the batik producers in their region and would encourage people, particularly civil employees to wear batik cloths at work.
This industry is expected to support the economy amid the export plunge, which occurred due to global crisis, he added.
Products export, except oil and gas, from East Java between January and July this year totaled to $4.722 billion, recording a fall of 22 percent in comparison to the same period last year.
Batik producers are receiving lodes of business orders during festive season, particularly, from the civil servants as they have to wear batik during working hours and also after the inclusion of batik into the list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ by UNESCO, recently.
Cities such as Jakarta, Makassar, Cirebon, Bali, Bandung and Surabaya place maximum orders of batik.
Batik producers are now receiving orders for around 2000 pieces of batik at a time, which is helping them to ride out crisis, against orders of 600 to 800 pieces of batik a month, ago.
The East Java Festival, organized from October 3 to 12 in Surabaya, also exhibits handicrafts and batik items produced by students of special schools for handicaps. Over 100 small and medium enterprises took part in the festival organized for 10 days.
In order to highlight the efforts of this province toward greater business equality, the handicraft products produced by the physically challenged people were displayed in the festival.
Governor Soekarwo believes handicrafts and batik are mainstays of the local economy. East Java has a rich batik culture, concentrated in Madura, Sidoarjo, Surabaya, Tuban and Gresik, stated the Governor.
He further added that he will make all regency and municipal heads to gather new data of all the batik producers in their region and would encourage people, particularly civil employees to wear batik cloths at work.
This industry is expected to support the economy amid the export plunge, which occurred due to global crisis, he added.
Products export, except oil and gas, from East Java between January and July this year totaled to $4.722 billion, recording a fall of 22 percent in comparison to the same period last year.
Batik producers are receiving lodes of business orders during festive season, particularly, from the civil servants as they have to wear batik during working hours and also after the inclusion of batik into the list of ‘Intangible Cultural Heritage’ by UNESCO, recently.
Cities such as Jakarta, Makassar, Cirebon, Bali, Bandung and Surabaya place maximum orders of batik.
Batik producers are now receiving orders for around 2000 pieces of batik at a time, which is helping them to ride out crisis, against orders of 600 to 800 pieces of batik a month, ago.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
China : CNTAC & ITMF to convene for Annual Conference in Shanghai - Textile News China
By invitation of the China National Textile & Apparel Council (CNTAC) the International Textile Manufacturers Federation (ITMF) will convene for its Annual Conference in Shanghai, China from October 23 to 25, 2009.
The general theme of this year’s ITMF Annual Conference – Structural Adjustments in the World Textile Industry – indicates that during the Conference delegates will have the opportunity to discuss ongoing structural changes and to exchange views on important topics along the entire value chain in the light of the biggest global financial and economic crisis in decades.
The keynote speaker of the Conference is Gerhard Schröder, former Chancellor of Germany (1998-2005).
The following topics are on the Conference’s agenda:
- Fibers: Outlook for Cotton and Man-made Fibers with Special Focus on China
- The Impact of the Global Financial and Economic Crisis on the Global Textile Industry
- Interdependence between the Textile and Retail Industry
- Adjustments and Revitalization of the Chinese Textile Industry
- Technical Textiles: Growth Segment of the Future?
- Ways to Innovation (Workshops)
Various renowned international speakers will present their views in the respective topics thus preparing the ground for interactive exchange with the Conference’s delegates. The speakers are:
- Terry Townsend, ICAC, Washington/USA
- Fang Gao, China Cotton Association, Beijing/China
- Friedrich Weninger, Lenzing Group, Lenzing/Austria
- Karen Jones, CMAI, Houston/USA
- Stephen Green, Standard Chartered Bank, Shanghai/China
- David Yuen Hoi Lee, UNIDO, Vienna/Austria
- Giuliano Noci, Dep. of Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milan, Milan/Italy
- Chien Chen, Walt-Mart, Shenzhen/China
- Badis Kouidrat, Devanlay Lacoste, Shanghai/China
- Arvind Singhal, Technopak, Gurgaon/India
- Peter Kreitals, Kreitals Consulting, Balwyn VIC/Australia
- Thomas Fischer, Center for Management Research, DITF, Denkendorf/Germany
- Jiri Militky, Technical University of Liberec, Liberec/Czech Republic
- Kunjuan Xu, CNTAC, Beijing/China
- Dekang Gao, Bosiden International Holdings, Jiangsu/China
- Shiping Xi, Shangtex Holding, Shanghai/China
- Hendrik van Delden, Gherzi van Delden, Krefeld/Germany
- Shunnian Shen, Haining China Warp Knitting, Zheijang/China
- Loek de Vries, Royal Ten Cate, Almelo/Netherlands
- Pang Fengjian, Shangdong Helon, Shandong/China
Prof. Edmund S. Phelps, Nobel Laureate for Economics (2006), has also been invited as a keynote speaker (to be confirmed). The delegates will also have the chance to visit the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Fair on Oct. 22 as well as different Chinese textile mills on Oct. 26.
The general theme of this year’s ITMF Annual Conference – Structural Adjustments in the World Textile Industry – indicates that during the Conference delegates will have the opportunity to discuss ongoing structural changes and to exchange views on important topics along the entire value chain in the light of the biggest global financial and economic crisis in decades.
The keynote speaker of the Conference is Gerhard Schröder, former Chancellor of Germany (1998-2005).
The following topics are on the Conference’s agenda:
- Fibers: Outlook for Cotton and Man-made Fibers with Special Focus on China
- The Impact of the Global Financial and Economic Crisis on the Global Textile Industry
- Interdependence between the Textile and Retail Industry
- Adjustments and Revitalization of the Chinese Textile Industry
- Technical Textiles: Growth Segment of the Future?
- Ways to Innovation (Workshops)
Various renowned international speakers will present their views in the respective topics thus preparing the ground for interactive exchange with the Conference’s delegates. The speakers are:
- Terry Townsend, ICAC, Washington/USA
- Fang Gao, China Cotton Association, Beijing/China
- Friedrich Weninger, Lenzing Group, Lenzing/Austria
- Karen Jones, CMAI, Houston/USA
- Stephen Green, Standard Chartered Bank, Shanghai/China
- David Yuen Hoi Lee, UNIDO, Vienna/Austria
- Giuliano Noci, Dep. of Economics and Industrial Engineering, Politecnico di Milan, Milan/Italy
- Chien Chen, Walt-Mart, Shenzhen/China
- Badis Kouidrat, Devanlay Lacoste, Shanghai/China
- Arvind Singhal, Technopak, Gurgaon/India
- Peter Kreitals, Kreitals Consulting, Balwyn VIC/Australia
- Thomas Fischer, Center for Management Research, DITF, Denkendorf/Germany
- Jiri Militky, Technical University of Liberec, Liberec/Czech Republic
- Kunjuan Xu, CNTAC, Beijing/China
- Dekang Gao, Bosiden International Holdings, Jiangsu/China
- Shiping Xi, Shangtex Holding, Shanghai/China
- Hendrik van Delden, Gherzi van Delden, Krefeld/Germany
- Shunnian Shen, Haining China Warp Knitting, Zheijang/China
- Loek de Vries, Royal Ten Cate, Almelo/Netherlands
- Pang Fengjian, Shangdong Helon, Shandong/China
Prof. Edmund S. Phelps, Nobel Laureate for Economics (2006), has also been invited as a keynote speaker (to be confirmed). The delegates will also have the chance to visit the Intertextile Shanghai Apparel Fabrics Fair on Oct. 22 as well as different Chinese textile mills on Oct. 26.
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