One-day seminar on Indian garment industry

The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, Chennai, in association with Apparel Export Promotion Council, Chennai, and Textiles Committee, Ministry of Textiles, Government of India, is organising a one-day seminar "� To Look at the Road Ahead "� on August 24.

The objective of the seminar is to address key issues such as technologies and shop floor practices that affect the productivity of the Indian garment industry.

There is no large garment firm with a turnover of $1 billion. This calls for promotion of the cluster approach for the sector, consolidating the small and medium units to scale-up their operations.

Discussions will also take place as how to enhance the competitiveness of Indian exports and the steps to be taken to improve the marketing and distribution efforts of Indian firms in niche markets.

The speakers at the seminar include Subodh Kumar, textile commissioner, Government of India, RCM Reddy, textile committee, Government of India, Goraghia, director of TQM, textile committee, Richard Haynes, consul general, UIS Consulate, and Sakthivel, chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council.

China and India will be the two largest beneficiaries of the end of the quota regime in the global textile and clothing trade from January 1, 2005, according to the latest study undertaken by WTO. The removal of the quota system will not only bring in huge opportunities but also challenges for the Indian textiles and garments industry.

The Government of India expects the exports of textile and apparel to go up to $ 50 billion by 2010 from the present exports worth $11 billion.

The global textile market is estimated to be at $350 billion of which China accounts for over 18 per cent while India's contribution is a mere four per cent. The Indian handloom exports are worth Rs 2,000 crore which is not expected to be affected by the elimination of quota system.