Indian Textile Industry and Garment Exports
The Indian textile industry is one of the largest industries in the world, with a huge raw material and textile manufacturing base. The industry occupies a unique position as a self-reliant industry, from the production of raw materials to the delivery of finished products. This large and ancient industry has carved out a special niche for itself as a facilitator of the county’s economic growth and participative development. Textile industry in India is a highly versatile sector, with smaller firms providing flexibility needed for smaller orders; the larger firms have the capacity to service the world’s biggest buyers. The Government of India has also undertaken several favourable policy initiatives, which have resulted in the growth of the sector. “Indian textile industry contributes about 14 per cent to industrial production, 4 per cent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP) and 16.63 per cent to export earnings,” as per Ministry of Commerce and Trade, India. Major destination for Indian garment exports The USA is the number one destination for the exports of Indian apparels. During 2011, the garment imports to the USA from world were around US$ 81.51 billion. India exports garments of worth US$ 3.53 billion to the USA, which accounts for 4.33 per cent share in the USA’s total garment imports. AEPC: An official body of apparel exporters Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) is an official body of apparel exporters in India. The body provides invaluable assistance to Indian exporters as well as international buyers who select India as their preferred sourcing destination for garments. AEPC initiative: DISHA Several western countries like the USA, have raised concerns regarding the usage of child labour in production houses in developing countries. The US and the European Union together account for 80 per cent of India’s total apparel exports. Therefore, an initiative “DISHA”- Driving Industry Towards Sustainable Human Capital Advancement has been launched by AEPC for the qualitative assessment of Indian garment manufacturers. The initiative will encourage Indian manufacturers to follow better social practices, which will give them a competitive edge in the global market. With DISHA in progress, India is well placed to emerge as one of the most compliant sourcing destinations amongst the developing nations and able to meet all the compliance challenges. Under the programme, the units would be encouraged to adopt improved production systems and worker’s productivity. The important focus of DISHA is issue of certification which certifies that the industry is complied with all social compliances as per international standards. Some of the compliances in the industry are:
Prohibition of child/forced labour
Non-discrimination
Proper working environment
Proper wages and working hours
Step taken by AEPC to promote garment exports Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) as part of its export promotion plan, for the first time, is organising Buyer-Seller Meet at New York, USA during January 2013. The initiative will provide an opportunity for international buyers to meet with selected top exporters of India, who will be showcasing their collection of women's wear, men’s wear, children wear and fashion accessories. These exporters are fully compliant with the global quality standards and have world-class production infrastructure.