apparelindia - Apparel Export Promotion Council

APPAREL INDIA
train 2.50 lac candidates over the next 5 years period and also to
scale up ATDC centres to 250. In addition ATDC will be setting
up “product specific speciality centres to build in innovation and
design capability; this initiative would be a major thrust area to
help exporters to diversify into new market categories.
Institute of Apparel Management (IAM)
Institute of Apparel Management (IAM) positioned as a
Multi-Varsity over the past 3full Academic Years. It has been
instrumental in training Industry-Ready Professionals in junior
to middle level managerial cadre based on the technological
needs & dynamics of the Apparel Industry, in a Global Context.
IAM offers full-time International Degree/ Diploma programs
in collaboration with leading International Bodies/ Universities
like Edexcel, UK, Mod’Spe, Paris, (supported by French readyto-wear
federation) and SMR University, Sansepolcro, Italy. IAM
also offers a range of fully delivered in classroom mode B.Tech,
MBA and BSc., BA Programmes in collaboration with Mewar
University, aiming to develop Designers, Merchandisers, Apparel
Technocrats with hands on exposure on latest “digital platforms”.
The IAM Gurgaon campus spread over 7th, 6th & 5th floor of
Apparel House presently includes Design Studio, IT as well as a
Fashion Innovation Lab, Garment Construction, Pattern Making
and Digital Fit-Engineering Labs and has a state of art Knowledge
Management Resource Centre (KMRC). During the year, IAM
also introduced 2 paid services to help the staff working in export
houses to access huge resources i.e. Knowledge Management and
Resource Center (KMRC) and Fashion Innovation Lab (FIL).
Asset Capacity Building
AEPC has pursued and completed Faridabad project with
its own resources for adding our training programmes. Further
construction at Immlikhera, Chhindwara, MP has been completed,
where ATDC is running successfully. The project at Patna is under
construction.
50th IIGF
50th India International Garment Fair will be held in Pragati
Maidan, New Delhi between 22- 24th January 2013 and will
provide wonderful opportunity for the buyers and exporters to
participate and avail good business deals. I request all exporters to
participate in this fair.
New Initiatives taken up with
Government Departments
In order to increase exports, I have taken up various matters
connected with garment exports. In this process I have submitted
proposal and have followed vigorously at various levels. Some of the
suggestions, which I have taken up with Government are as follows:-
• Enhancement of limit of 3% duty free import of trimmings
and embellishments to 5%.
• Extension of zero duty EPCG license scheme up to 2016-
17.
• Enhancement of Status Holders Entitlement from 1% to
2%.
• Addition of countries for grant of scrips like Russia, South
Africa, Brazil, South Korea, Japan and Australia.
• Reintroduction of Gold card scheme
• To intensify exports to long distance countries like Latin
America and Australia to provide 3% license in market
linked focus product scheme.
• Waiver of average export obligation in foreign trade policy
• Lower rate of interest for export financing.
• To remove the cap of 50 hours working in a quarter and
corroborating the overtime to workers as per ILO standards
to 125%.
• Proposal for reviving of Textile Export Promotion Board for
faster decision making process in the Government.
Competitiveness Study
The Ministry of Textiles has given the responsibility
to AEPC for facilitating in conducting a study on the
‘Competitiveness in the Apparel Sector’. The study will
help in focusing AEPC’s efforts on those products where
we are losing an edge.The study would cover major factors,
responsible for garment exports, in countries like China,
Vietnam, Bangladesh, Turkey, Indonesia, etc.
Service Tax Matter
Service Tax matters of Membership and ATDC has been taken
up for necessary clarification.
Bilateral Agreements
We are requesting the Government for the faster finalization
of FTA with EU and Canada.
I welcome the forthcoming year 2013 which has come with
new reforms. The Government’s decision to allow FDI in
multibrand retail is a welcome decision which is expected to
bring FDI from USA and EU. Only to boost our exports, this
FDI will give domestic markets a huge opportunity of growth.
I assure you that I will continue to take up industry issues
with various stakeholders so that export of garment can be
increased to the level envisaged by the Government. I solicit
your continuous support in this endeavor. Once again I wish
you a Happy New Year – 2013.
Dr. A Sakthivel
Chairman AEPC
8 APPAREL INDIA