Shri Premal Udani, Chairman, AEPC has complimented Shri Anand Sharma, Hon’ble Commerce and Industry Minister, Govt. of India on the historic signing of Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with Japan. CEPA is one of the largest agreement ever signed by India with US$ 5 trillion GDP of Japan.
As per the Agreement, about 94% of the tariffs between Japan and India will be eliminated within 10 years (about 97% by Japan and about 90% by India on trade value basis). The discussion on CEPA had started during November, 2004 and there were 14 rounds of negotiations to reach to an Agreement in-principle during September, 2010. The historic Agreement has been signed on Feb 16, 2011.
Shri Premal Udani said that in anticipation of signing of CEPA Agreement, AEPC organized Apparel Mega Show in International Fashion Fair, Tokyo during the year 2009 & 2010, which were respectively inaugurated by the Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles and Textile Secretary, Govt. of India. The Council also organized fashion shows during these two events to project India’s clothing potentials.
The current garment exports from India to Japan are in the order of US$ 125 million, which are almost equally divided between knitted and woven garments. India is amongst the top 5 suppliers of garments to Japan. Synthetic dresses are exported in the largest quantity and value.
Shri Udani further said that as per the agreement, all garment items falling under Chapter 61 & 62 (knit & woven garments), have become duty free with effect from today. The effective rate of duty, which is around 11%, shall now not be paid by the garment exporters of India. There would be a growth of nearly 50% in India’s garment exports to Japan.
Shri Premal Udani further added that AEPC has already made arrangements to showcase Textile and Clothing show by participating in IFF, Tokyo between 20-22 July, 2011. Shri Udani further said that AEPC, in anticipation of the Agreement, had extensive meetings with major buyers like FAST Retailing, who have over 700 stores and the Council is in continuous dialogue with data exchange. Shri Udani further said that in the recently concluded Tex-Trends India – 2011, 98 Japanese buyers visited the show, which itself demonstrates growing capabilities of our country in performing quality garment exports to Japan.
