Hope soars for garment exporters

Despite cut-throat competition from China in exporting readymade garments, India is expecting a rise of 30 to 50 per cent in its export in the next fiscal.

With lots of drawbacks like poor infrastructure, labour laws, export policies and others, garment exproters still have a hope of growth.

"Last year garment export increased by 20 per cent and by next year we expect to increase around 40 to 50 per cent," said Kaushik Trivedi, manufacturer of export fabric and garment.

Trivedi, based in Ahmedabad, claimed that India is leading in shirting and dress material while China is leading in denim garments.

"China is known for volume. They can provide quantity in less time but somehow they are not able to manage quality," explained Trivedi.

He also said that China exports with low cost.

"They are almost 50 per cent cheaper than us. We could only supply fabric at the cost they supply readymade garment," said Trivedi.

With many industries coming up with exporting garment with quality, exporters believes that India will increase its export of readymade garments.

"Right now in Gujarat, hardly there are eight to nine factories that can manufacture and supply large volume of readymade garments and around three more companies will be set up by next financial year.

Similarly, in South India many more companies are upto establishment of exporting readymade garments," said Trivedi.

Talking about the drawbacks, Sunil Gandhi, president of Gujarat Manufacturer's Association and a leading exporter, said that in China units run for 24 hours with two or three shifts.

"In India we have so many holidays to celebrate it becomes difficult to achieve the target several times," said Gandhi.

Pointing out the export policies, Gandhi said that units in China dispatch the shipments in maximum seven days while in India some time it takes around 45 days.

"Though China is far ahead than us in quantity, but for them it would be difficult to compete India in quality. The companies in Europe who are keen to buy quality, they always prefer Indian market," explained Gandhi.

He too said that compared to last year India will increase its export.

"Last year it was 20 per cent and surely this year it will cross more than that," claimed Gandhi.