A Sakthivel, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has lauded Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry and Textiles for working towards an early conclusion of FTAs with the UK and the UAE, and for his assurance to resolve concerns of Indian apparel exporters. Sakthivel also thanked Goyal for assuring the government will examine and try to resolve all issues raised by various stakeholders at the meeting organized by the Ministry of Textiles with the theme: ‘Local Goes Global – Make in India for the World’.

He requested the Minister to introduce new policy initiatives like incentivizing value-added exports and disincentivizing exports of raw materials. He also suggested that the CCI should make available 70 per cent of the cotton to local manufacturers helping increase value-added exports, investment and employment. Sakthivel also urged for the inclusion of apparel lines in the early harvest deals being negotiated with the EU and the UK. Compared to zero duty for apparels from Turkey, Bangladesh, Cambodia and Pakistan, Indian apparels face a duty disadvantage of 9.6 per cent in these regions, he said and added that other FTAs need to be fast tracked as well.

The chairman also raised the issue of increasing freight costs and sought immediate resolution of the issue in view of the upcoming Christmas season. He further sought amendment in the proposed Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme to make it more effective and accessible. He urged the ministry to expand the current list of 40 MMF garment products under the PLI to include additional 23 high potential MMF items. He requested lowering the incremental growth target for brownfield projects to 25 per cent, at par with Greenfield projects, from the proposed 40 per cent for getting the PLI benefits.