The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) recently hosted a session with Haryana Government officials and apparel industry experts to discuss the scope of investment in the apparel industry as it is gearing up for more investments. The discussion was held with respect to the upcoming “HAPPENING HARYANA: Global Investors Summit” in Gurgaon where the apparel sector is one of the focus areas for investment in the State.
The discussion was led by Mr. P.K. Das, Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Haryana, Mr. T.L. Satyaprakash, Deputy Commissioner, Gurgaon, Mr. Sanjeev Raheja, CII, Chandigarh, Mr. Ashwani Gupta, Additional Director (Tech), Mr. S.N. Singh, Joint Director, District Industries Centre, Gurgaon, Mr. Vijay Mathur, Additional Secretary-General, AEPC, Mr. H.K.L. Magu, MD, Jyoti Apparels, and Mr. Gautam Nair, MD, Matrix Clothing, were among the dignitaries present at the discussion.
Critical issues such as skilled manpower supply, ease of doing business and the need for constant interaction between the Government and industry for easier compliance of regulations for the apparel industry were discussed. The agenda of the meeting was to understand the critical issues that the apparel industry is facing, the existing entrepreneurial growth in the sector and the lack of industrial training.
With growing emphasis on Skill India these days, there is a need to open more ITIs for training students on the nuances of the apparel sector, so that more professionals can enter it. Skill-based training makes entrants more employable in the sector.
“We have made a mark in apparel exports all over the world. We are the seventh largest apparel exporter, and the industry is growing at 3.50%. Haryana is the upcoming destination for investment in apparels and is turning into an apparel hub. I would like Gurgaon to become an apparel brand like Surat and Banaras. The Haryana Government will support the budding entrepreneurs and will provide a favorable environment. We will gear up and address the critical issues of the industry to motivate entrepreneurship and provide investment in the apparel industry, said Mr. Das.
Mr. Ashok G. Rajani, AEPC Chairman, said: “We are happy that Happening Haryana has Apparel Sector as an area of investment in Haryana. I appreciate the initiative taken by the Government of Haryana in taking up the industry issues. The apparel sector has its share of problems; investment would increase by leaps and bounds once the government takes steps towards eradication of these problems. We have collaborated with state government in various areas and we are constantly in touch with them to help Apparel Industry grow further”.
The apparel sector is growing at a rapid pace though there are some hindrances which need to be addressed by the Government. The industry, despite being the least polluting, has to bear the brunt of regular summoning and notices from the Pollution Control Board, he added.
The burden of ESI proves to be difficult for new industrialists, and the Haryana Government should ease it out by paying the industrialists’ share of ESI for the first five years as is done in Karnataka and Gujarat. It will be a great boost to the industrialists, said Mr. Magu.
He stressed that the apparel industry is one sector which can make the ‘Happening Haryana’ successful.