In response to the sluggish exports of ready-made garments, the Indian Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) formed a seven-member delegation to Japan to embark on a one-week new market development trip.
A delegation led by AEPC Director Rakesh Vaid will visit Tokyo and Osaka to learn about the composition of local imported products.
In 2007, Japan’s garment imports reached US$22.6 billion, mainly from China. US$151 million from India, a decrease of 11.6% from the previous year.
Vaid said that in 2007, India exported US$131 million of woven garments and US$20 million of knitted garments to Japan. China’s proportion of Japan’s import market is 93%, while India’s is only 0.3%.
Due to the severe economic downturn in the United States and Europe, exports of garments to Japan will surge. Japan is the world’s fourth largest clothing importing country, second only to the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom, accounting for 8.14% of global imports.
Vaid said that AEPC plans to hold a large-scale exhibition in Japan to vigorously promote the strength of the Indian garment industry. About 50 major exporters will participate in the exhibition. But the date for the trade show has not yet been finalized. AEPC will invite Japanese designers to work in India so that they can collaborate with Indian businesses and exporters.
AEPC represents more than 8,000 small, medium and large exporters in the Indian textile industry. India’s garment exports in 2007-08 were US$9.7 billion. Nearly 60% is exported to the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
