The Union Minister for Textiles, Ms. Smriti Zubin Irani, presented the AEPC Export Awards 2015-16 at a special function held in New Delhi on December 19.
Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Irani observed that the Government would do its utmost within the constitutional framework to strengthen the textile industry. In the wake of demonetization, the Textiles Ministry has helped open five lakh bank accounts for associated workers in the industry in just three weeks. The Government is also ensuring that the workers are trained to digitally use their bank accounts.
To further promote exports, there should be an award for the best player in the emerging market in the next award season. The industry should also head towards sustainable garments from an international perspective; and should look for innovation either in marketing or technology, she added.
In his address, Mr. Ashok G. Rajani, AEPC Chairman, said that the AEPC Export Awards extend across diverse categories and include both experienced and start-up representations. The awards have been instituted with the aim to encourage Indian apparel exporters to increase their export capacities and enhance competitiveness amongst firms to capture global markets.
“We have an ambitious target for export and job creation in the next three years. I call upon the winners to be mentors to the start-ups and SMEs in this sector and together strengthen the entrepreneurship ecosystem”.
The Chairman further said that India’s garment exports had been facing problem of stagnation since last year, due to depressed conditions in the major markets like the US and the EU. However, since the announcement of the Rs. 6,000-crore Special Package by the Ministry in June 2016, there has been some optimism in the industry, and exports have picked up. The garment sector alone accounted for more than 47 per cent share in all textile goods exports. India exported garments worth of $10.96 billion during April-November 2016. In the last fiscal India’s garment exports were to the tune of $16.9 billion.
The Minister of State for Textiles, Mr. Ajay Tamta, and Mr. Ashok Rajani, along with the other executive members and officials from various ministries were also present at the event to showcase their commitment towards strengthening India’s apparel export industry.
The Union Minister of Textiles presented the awards comprising twenty two categories. The awards were divided into multiple categories; and the key awards were:
Global exports above Rs. 500 crore
* Shahi Exports Pvt. Ltd., Harish Ahuja, Managing Director (Faridabad, Haryana)
* Orient Craft Ltd., Mr. Sudhir Dhingra, CMD (Gurgaon, Haryana)
* Gokaldas Exports Ltd., Mr. P. Ramababu, Vice Chairman and MD (Bangalore)
Award winners for Global exports above Rs. 100 crore and up to Rs. 500 crore
* Pearl Global Industries Ltd., Mr. Pulkit Seth, Vice Chairman and MD (Gurgaon, Haryana)
* Pratibha, Mr. Shreyaskar Chaudhary, MD (Madhya Pradesh)
* Raymond Group of Companies (Garmenting business), Mr. Vishal Pratap Singh Bist, Director (Bangalore)
Award winners for Global exports above Rs. 50 crore and upto Rs. 100 crore
* Penguin Apparels (P) Ltd. Mrs. Anita Elango, Human Development Manager (Madurai, Tamil Nadu)
* Jyoti Apparels, Mr. Varinder Kumar, Managing Partner (New Delhi)
* Loyal Textile Mills Ltd., Mr. Manikam Ramaswami, Chairman and MD (Tamil Nadu)
Award winner for new entrepreneur
* Milion Exports Private Ltd., Mr. Narinder Chug (New Delhi)
Award winner for the highest exports to Japan
* Lodha Impex, Dalpat Lodha, Proprietor (Jaipur)
Smriti Zubin Irani inaugurates Apparel & Garment Making Centre at Imphal
Ms. Smriti Zubin Irani, Union Minister of Textiles, recently inaugurated the Apparel and Garment Making Centre at Lamboikhongnangkhong in Imphal. She also distributed “Pehchan” Identity Cards to some artisans.
The Centre consists of one skilling block, and two commercial blocks and 300 nos. of machines are installed at the centre.
Ms. Smriti Irani said on the occasion that the scheme for identifying weavers was launched on October 7, 2014, and now more than 2,000 weavers have been identified and issued identity cards.
On the occasion she referred to the Prime Minister’s idea of giving special attention to the NE States for development. The project for installing the new centre is Rs. 18 crores, and it will be beneficial for the State and it was completed within 9 months.
The MUDRA Scheme was also launched for the direct connectivity of the weavers so that they can easily be identified for international exhibition.
The function was also attended by Dr. Th. Meinya Singh, MP, Mr. Govindas Konthoujam, Minister, Mr. L. Lakher, Principal Secretary, and Mr. John B. Tlangtinkhuma, Director, Commerce and Industries, Government of Manipur and officers from the Central Government.