The Apparel Exporters Promotion Council (AEPC) conclave was anchored by Premal Udani, chairman, AEPC at the 10th edition of IFF in Mumbai. Some of the leading exporters from the fashion industry debated on the prospective markets by weighing out the global vs the domestic scenario.
Vimal Kirti Singh, secretary general of AEPC shared that the market share of Indian exporters is 43 per cent in Europe and 42 per cent in America. He noted, “The government is looking at exploring newer potential markets such as Japan and South Africa.” He also stressed, “Currently, it is not foreign exchange but skill development, on which the govenment is concentrating.” Singh also predicted that moving forward the domestic sector as well as the export sector in India will open up job opportunities for a huge number of skilled labour.
In this context, Udani added that compliance is becoming an important factor in this new age fashion industry. The idea is to keep to socially approved norms and build productivity in small and medium factories as well. Rahul Mehta, MD, Creative Group and Ashok Rajani, VP, AEPC, were also a part of the eminent panel.
The panelists unanimously expressed their desire that exporters should create domestic brands. And thus, establishing Brand India is the way forward according to the panelists.
— Sayanti Banerjee, Mumbai Bureau
