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Petroleum Resource Development Deputy Minister Dr. Anoma Gamage cuts the ribbon to open the India International Textiles Expo (IITExpo) – Colombo 2019 Exhibition cum Buyer-Seller Meet (BSM) organised by the Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) of India at Hotel Galadari yesterday
By Charumini de Silva
Petroleum Resource Development Deputy Minister Dr. Anoma Gamage yesterday called on apparel manufacturers and traders of India and Sri Lanka to further strengthen their business partnerships to seize the export opportunities in the European Union market.
She made these remarks at the inauguration ceremony of the India International Textiles Expo (IITExpo) – Colombo 2019 Exhibition cum Buyer-Seller Meet (BSM) organised by the Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) of India at Hotel Galadari yesterday.
Noting that Sri Lanka was the only beneficiary in the whole of South Asia under the ‘GSP Plus’ scheme of the EU, which can now export well over 6,000 products to the vast European market at zero duty, she insisted the entrepreneurs of both countries should capitalise on this opportunity.
“Our entrepreneurs must connect with Indian manufactures and traders. With the space available in the EU market for Sri Lanka, manufacturers and traders on either side can seize the opportunity of re-exporting Indian products from Sri Lanka,” Gamage pointed out.
Instead of looking at Indian products as a challenge to local exports, she asserted local exporters and manufacturers should view them as an opportunity to cater to advanced economies.
PDEXCIL Chairman Sunil Patil said Sri Lanka was one of India’s largest trading partners in SAARC. “Fabrics are among the major items imported from India and Sri Lanka is among the top 10 countries for export of cotton fabrics,” he added.
According to Patil, export of major textile commodities from India to Sri Lanka stood at over $ 600 million in 2018.
Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) Chairman Rehan Lakhany said they viewed Indian fabric suppliers as an important part of local supply chain and had always encouraged growth of suppliers from India.
Stating that Sri Lankan apparel exporters were now stepping into an era of stabilisation, he stressed that they had seen the highest growth in the industry during the past five years.
“We have achieved an export earing of $ 5 billion last year and we have now got a target to achieve of $ 8 billion by 2025. We believe, with the achievements we have seen in the first half of this year, we are on target to achieve our goal by 2025,” Lakhany added.
Joint Apparel Association Forum Sri Lanka (JAAFSL) Chairman Sharad Amalean said speed in supply chain and closer to needlepoint was what all customers and manufacturers wanted in today’s context.
“The business environment is changing very fast with digital tools, agility, speed and geographical location for sale of apparel. Speed in supply chain and closer to needlepoint is what all customers and manufacturers want today. Therefore, you need not be in Sri Lanka to supply to us; there are various ways in which you can manufacture there and dye here or manufacture there and have a bonded warehouse here. Find innovative ways to make business happen,” he stressed.
Amalean said the leadership of Victoria’s Secret had visited Sri Lanka last week to meet them, reaffirming that the country had returned to normalcy and is stable.
“Although apparel was one of the least affected sectors due to the Easter Sunday attacks, we did feel the pressure of our customers not visiting Sri Lanka, especially during May and June. However, now it has changed. Customers and investors are coming back to the country, which shows their confidence in Sri Lanka,” he added.
High Commission of India Counsellor – Economic and Commercial Suja K. Menon emphasised the need for more business links and more people ties to enhance trade between the two countries. “We firmly believe that foreign relations and diplomacy cannot be confined to the Government alone, it is you — the industry and people – who have to take it forward,” she added.
She also commended the contribution of Sri Lankan companies that had expanded their footprint to India, making a lot of contribution in terms of FDI and employment generation.
Highlighting that the High Commission of India was facilitating many training opportunities under the ITEC (Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation) program, Menon urged the participants to make use of these fully-funded programs by Government of India.
PDEXCIL Vice Chairman M. A. Ramasamy as well as PDEXCIL Past Chairmen M. Duraisamy and Bharat M. Chhajer also shared their views at the inauguration ceremony.
The three-day expo is open for visitors and buyers between 12.00 pm to 6 pm on today and tomorrow at the Hotel Galadri Colombo. About 25 selected exhibitors from various textile clusters of India viz., Tamil Nadu (Erode, Salem, Coimbatore), Ichalkaranji, Solapur, (Maharashtra), Ahmedabad, Surat (Gujarat), will be displaying varieties of Apparel fabrics (woven, knitted and non- woven), Made-ups, Home Textiles, Traditional items etc., in various blends, texture, colour designs etc, suitable for apparel, industrial and technical application.
Previously, PDEXCIL has organised two major events in 2013 and 2018. Last year’s edition of IITExpo Colombo attracted over 400 buyers from Sri Lanka and over 40 Indian exhibitors who displayed variety of textile products from India.
Besides Sri Lanka, PDEXCIL, in past, with support of Govt. of India had participated in other major International Fairs in Germany, China, Dubai and also organized various international events in India.
