– 14th Edition of India Tex Trend Fair inaugurated in Tokyo today
– AEPC participates in India Tex Trend Fair with the highest number of RMG exporters
Tokyo/ New Delhi 23rd July 2024: In the presence of Mr. Ishii Taku, Vice Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Government of Japan, Mr. Yoshitaka Sasakawa, Advisor, Japan India Industry Promotion Association (JIIPA), senior AEPC functionaries, other dignitaries, and representatives from apparel brands, retail chains, etc., His Excellency Sibi George, Ambassador of India to Japan, opened the 14th edition of the India Tex Trends Fair today in Tokyo, Japan.
“I congratulate Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and Japan India Industry Promotion Association (JIIPA) for the exemplary effort in organizing this biggest apparel fair in Japan,” Shri Sibi George stated in his inaugural address. There are currently 1500 success stories under the India-Japan Strategic Partnership; my goal is to increase this number to fifteen thousand. We need a quantum leap to make this happen, and the textile industry is one significant area that can assist us in doing so.
In his speech, AEPC Chairman Shri Sudhir Sekhi said, “We arrived with 70 exhibitors seven years ago. Thanks to the joint efforts of JIIPA and AEPC, we have 250 exhibitors from India this year. Our two goals in coming here are to promote and seek investment in the Indian RMG sector and to boost RMG exports from India to Japan.
“I am happy to share that Indian garment factories are, for the most part, ESG compliant,” continued Chairman AEPC. Indian clothing companies are leading the way in the use of solar energy, renewable energy, zero liquid discharge, etc. India has launched Kasturi, a cotton brand that will allow our international consumers to track the whole textile value chain through block chain technology-managed traceability. Ultimately, we are able to accommodate all types of orders—from large purchases to tiny, customized ones. In summary, I want to convey that India is now prepared to serve markets such as Japan and that I am optimistic that deeper contacts will lead to exponential growth in our bilateral apparel trade.
Speaking about the rapidly increasing garment export, Shri Mithileshwar Thakur, Secretary General of AEPC, stated that India accounts for merely 1% of Japan’s USD 23 billion global garment import total. We see a lot of potential for business in Japan. Given its inherent strengths in terms of fiber availability, minimal reliance on imports, the presence of a complete value chain in each fiber, the demographic dividend, the range and variety of Indian apparel offerings, the renewed focus on quality and ESG compliance, industry-friendly textile policies from the federal and state governments, and an ever-improving business ecosystem, India is an emerging economic powerhouse that is well-positioned to fill the void left by China’s declining share of the Japanese market.
In light of the fact that Indian apparel is duty-free in Japan under the Indo-Japan CEPA, while China and Turkey have duties of 9% and 9.5%, respectively, it is prudent for Indian RMG exporters and manufacturers to take part in ITTF and investigate this lucrative market.
On the fringes of this expo, the AEPC delegation is interacting with representatives of leading brands and retail chains. Among the well-known brands are Adastria Co. Ltd., MN International, World Co. Ltd., Toray International Inc., and Fast Retailing Co. Ltd.
Prominent Japanese buyers and some of the most recognizable Japanese brands, such as Sumitomo Corporation, MUJI, Toyoshima, Marubeni, Mitsubishi, Koyo Trading, United Arrows, MYK Fashion, etc., will be present at ITTF over the course of three days in order to source their needs. Indian vendors from all around the nation will be showcasing a wide variety of Indian RMG in a number of categories, such as summer and winter collections.
