Rahul Mehta

This is not the first time that India has found itself with a heaven-sent opportunity. This time, however, all indicators are that the ground situation is different. Will India be able to upstage China in the global textiles and apparel trade? A ground report.

A joint initiative by leading textile associations and export promotion councils, the Indian textile-apparel sector has come up with a five-point agenda that outlines immediate policy interventions needed to drive the industry toward a collective goal of US$ 100 billion in exports by 2030.

Observers are agog over how the launch of a pilot qcom programme by leading e-commerce player, Myntra, will play out. Speculation is rife about what this will mean for fashion markets in India. The talk is mostly about brands and big players. What do these mean for small manufacturers? Do they get new platforms to sell? Or, does this mean they will get financially squeezed as they are often on e-comm marketplaces? An analysis.

The Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) signed between the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) States—Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland—and India, promises significant economic benefits, such as better integrated and more resilient supply chains, new opportunities for businesses leading to increased trade and investment flows, job creation, and economic growth. Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor of the Clothing Manufacturers Association of India (CMAI), weighs in on what it holds out for India.