Apparel November 2019 Apparel November 2019 issue | Page 48

FEATURE
WHILE THE INTENT IS EVIDENT,
IT IS THE RESULTS OF THESE
INITIATIVES THAT WILL TRULY
DETERMINE THEIR SUCCESS
AND EFFECTIVENESS.
“We have proposed that the fashion street should
have high-end fashion stores, restaurants and
ramps. We want that people of all budgets come
for food and shopping, and enjoy fashion shows
frequently like it happens in Paris,” he adds.
At an event organised at Indira Gandhi Kala
Kendra in Sector 6, Smriti Irani said of the
development, “Noida is a gateway to Uttar
Pradesh and offers an environment conducive for
development, growth and women empowerment.
The apparel cluster will create 5 lakh jobs in the
time to come and offer opportunities.”
ATTRACTING INTERNATIONAL NAMES
While the challenges faced by manufacturers
in India are being addressed by the corridors
of power, there is good news flowing in, in the
form of an 18-member American Chamber of
Commerce meeting consisting of top government
officials in New Delhi to discuss more sourcing
opportunities from India, while also pushing for a
free-trade agreement (FTA) between India and the
United States (US).
The delegation comprised sourcing heads
of large apparel and footwear brands such as
Carter’s, Ralph Lauren Asia Pacific Ltd, Gap Inc.,
PVH Corp. (which owns brands such as Calvin
Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and Arrow), and other major
apparel-sourcing companies, which together
discussed their expectations and long-term
benefits of sourcing from India. The delegation
was met by Smriti Irani, Ravi Capoor, Textile
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I APPAREL I
November 2019
Secretary, and Amitabh Kant, Chief Executive
Officer, NITI Aayog.
Given the backdrop of India losing the share
of outsourced manufacturing to other Asian
countries including Bangladesh and Vietnam, and
the rising trade tensions between the US and
China, this move becomes not only relevant but
also very much required.
Although most of these brands have been
sourcing from India for decades, their visit
comes at a time when India is losing out on
apparel exports to other Asian countries such
as Bangladesh and Vietnam that score better in
cost-efficiency. However, with an escalation in
trade tensions between China and the US, India
stands to gain.
As Amitabh Kant said in a tweet, “Fruitful
interaction with textile, apparel & footwear
delegation from the American Chamber of
Commerce, Hong Kong. Wonderful to see their
immense interest in sourcing from & investing
in India.”
In summation, the past few months have
seemed to be beneficial to the sector as a whole.
While the intent is evident, it is the results of these
initiatives that will truly determine their success
and effectiveness.”