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SEMA: A PLATFORM FOR COLLECTIVE GROWTH OF SCHIFFLI MANUFACTURERS
Indian textile industry has very recently discovered the power of collaborative business. After the very successful business WhatsApp group – ITF( Indian Texpreneurs Federation), that has been a great source of collaborative bargaining and business enhancement for textile companies in Tamil Nadu, now schiffli manufacturers of Delhi- NCR have grouped together under the aegis of SEMA –( Schiffli Embroidery Manufacturers Association) with a similar agenda. The success that the collective voice of the members of SEMA has been able to achieve in a short span of time is noteworthy. Sanjay Bansal, Director, Shiv Shakti Embroideries and President of the Association is very upbeat of the prospects and hints at taking the concept to other embroidery hubs too.
The association – SEMA may be relatively new, but the group has been working informally for its members for over 5 years. Initially, it was conceived as a friends’ group to sit together on a regular basis and discuss the industry and its issues, but the group generated so much interest and discussion that today it is a strong body, representing schiffli units that are operating in the Delhi-NCR region.
“ After the first few meetings, we realised that everyone had so much to say, and there was no platform where issues affecting a group of people running a similar business, could be shared. The enthusiasm of the group pushed us to create an association which is formed to facilitate a common goal of providing international quality products / services preferred by worldwide customers at competitive price,” shared Bansal.
Among the first issues tackled by the group was the 13 % VAT that was being charged on fabric sales in Haryana, prior to the implementation of GST.“ There was no clarity on the act and the industry in Gurgaon and Faridabad was suffering. We collectively went to the concerned Government officials / Minister and it was decided that whatever was received in the VAT chain only needed to be paid, which was a great relief to the industry,” added Bansal. Tasting the first success only meant that the faith in collective bargaining became stronger.
Today, SEMA is an informationsharing platform, where members are openly discussing relevant topics, like how to create designs; how to challenge Chinese imports; new requirements of industry; latest technologies and now they have even
SEMA members with Capt. Abhimanyu – the Finance, Revenue, Excise & Taxation, Planning, Consolidation, Rehabilitation, Law & Legislative Minister, Govt. of Haryana
52 Apparel Online India | SEPTEMBER 1-15, 2018 | www. apparelresources. com