Experts call for focus on garmenting with strategy, efficiency.
Witotton yarn exports dominating readymade garment exports from Punjab, textile players in the region have stressed on value addition, brand creation and large-scale production facility to boost textile sector in the state. According to textile players, manufacturers can get higher returns and increase their share in exports only through value addition.
Punjab is among the largest producers of cotton, blended yarn and mill- made fabrics in India, but still it is much behind value addition as compared to Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu.
“The textile industry from Punjab is exporting raw materials such as yarn, denim and non-denim fabric to South India and other countries. If the industry wants to take over Tirrupur cluster, it will have to focus on value addition like garmenting with a better strategy and efficiency,” said Kamal Oswal, vice-chairman and managing director, Nahar Industrial Enterprises, during the recently concluded Progressive Punjab Investors Summit.
In 2018, out of total exports of cotton yarn and readymade garments from Punjab, the share of cotton yarn was 64%. The total exports of cotton yarn and readymade garments were Rs 6,489 crore. Further, the size of Punjab’s textile industry is around Rs 30,000 crore which includes spinning, yarn production, fabric manufacturing and garmenting. Out of the total industry size, the share of garmenting is around 8%.
Tiruppur cluster in Tamil Nadu is a leader in garment exports from the country. The Tiruppur Exporters’ Association (TEA), India’s leading readymade/knitwear cluster, has reported exports of Rs 26,000 crore in fiscal 2019 and Rs 24,000 crore in the previous fiscal.
Experts said the Ludhiana-based manufacturers should focus on creating their own brand. “Currently, many of the units work as vendors for other manufacturers. If the industry really wants to grow, they should focus on creating their own brand because when a unit works for a brand its growth depends on the original manufacturer but when an industry creates its own brand, it can group by leaps and bounds,” Oswal added.
Textile players were also of view that the textile sector in Punjab is dominated by the MSMEs. However, the need of the hour is to have large production facilities, preferably 10,000 pieces per day.
To boost the textile sector, Apparel Export Promotion Council chairman HKL Maggu stressed on technology upgrade and skilling workers. He said the council was planning to have a centre of excellence to boost exports from the state.
Experts said the dissemination of knowledge by textile giants, exchange of ideas and best practices could do wonders for Punjab to enable it to develop on the lines of Tiruppur.
Published On : 10-12-2019
Source : The Tribune India
