05 April 2022, Mumbai:

Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE) through National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) had engaged a consulting firm to conduct a study on sector-wise incremental requirements, including manufacturing sector, of skilled manpower in 2016.

The study covered 24 sectors and analyzed the sector-wise human resource requirements with 2013 as a baseline.

ALSO READ Piyush Goyal: Need to develop skills of tomorrow for the industry

The estimated manpower requirement was projected as 614.28 million for 2022 including manufacturing sector.

In order to address the incremental manpower requirement covering manufacturing sector and to empower youth including rural youth with adequate skills, Skill India Mission was launched in 2015.

Under Skill India Mission, the Government through 20 Central Ministries/Departments is implementing various skill development schemes across the country.

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Major skill development training schemes/ programmes covering manufacturing sector, being implemented by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, are Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY), Jan Shikshan Sansthan (JSS), National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme (NAPS) and Craftsmen Training Scheme (CTS).

Under PMKVY, JSS, NAPS and CTS, as on 31.12.2021, around 2.35 crore candidates have been trained/enrolled.

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CREDITS: PBI (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff)

02 April 2022, Mumbai:

Manoj Patodia, Chairman of The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL) thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary leadership and Piyush Goyal, Minister of Textiles, Commerce, and Industry and Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution for their relentless efforts which have enabled the finalization of the India UAE CEPA (Comprehensive & Economic Partnership Agreement) on March 27, 2022.

The Chairman pointed out that with a "zero for zero" duty-free access for textiles and clothing, well supported by robust Rules of Origin, Indian export of cotton textiles to the region is poised to grow exponentially in the coming years.

ALSO READ India and the UAE have signed a historic CEPA, which will promote textile and garment exports

The CEPA is expected to generate an additional increase of USD 2 billion in overall exports over the next 5 years and will also provide a platform for SMEs to expand internationally by access to new customers, networks, and avenues of collaboration.

It is also expected to improve the Women's Workforce Participation Rate & increase employment opportunities for youth.

The Chairman mentioned that there is good potential for the export of cotton textile items like bed & bath linen, kitchen & table linen, curtains & valances, quilts and comforters, and cotton woven fabrics including denim.

RELATED NEWS CEPA to unleash India, UAE’s textile potential

With the setting up of Warehousing or Distribution Centres in UAE, the CEPA will encourage trade movement to neighboring GCC as well as African markets and initiatives like these will help in collaboration, innovation, and cooperation between the two countries.

With India crossing its ambitious target of USD 400 billion in goods export this year, the India UAE CEPA will provide the much necessary impetus and momentum to increase our exports in home textiles and fabrics to the UAE, the Chairman added.

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CREDITS: TEXPROCIL (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff).

01 April 2022, Mumbai:

The 53rd India Handicraft and Gift Fair (IHGF-Delhi Fair–2022) opened in Greater Noida yesterday. The 5-day show, which is organized by the Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH), features over 2,500 exhibitors from all around India displaying products such as home textiles, lifestyle, fashion, textiles, and furniture.

The India Expo Center & Mart hosts the event, which spans 15 halls and 900 permanent showrooms. The event was opened by Darshana V. Jardosh, Union Minister of State for Textiles, and UP Singh, Secretary, Textiles.

On this occasion, Shantmanu, Development Commissioner (Handicrafts); Raj K Malhotra, Chairman; Dr. Rakesh Kumar, DG, EPCH; and another EPCH official were present.

ALSO READ 53rd IHGF Delhi Fair 2022: CONNECTING THE BEST IN INDIA's HANDICRAFTS

The fair, according to the Minister, represents the Government of India's 'Atmanirbhar Bharat Abhiyaan,' as these large numbers of handicraft exporters produce the best of an Indian home, lifestyle, fashion, textiles, and furniture from locally sourced raw materials, earning much-needed foreign exchange for the country.

UP Singh praised the inclusion of various regional handmade products from J&K, Ladakh, Rajasthan, and the North-Eastern Regions in the show's Theme & Collective Presentations, particularly those manufactured from natural and eco-friendly materials.

RELATED NEWS 53rd IHGF Delhi Fair 2022: CONNECTING THE BEST IN INDIA's HANDICRAFTS

"Over the years, a large number of interventions related to backward linkages through entrepreneurship development, skilling, product and design development, and forward linkages through marketing platforms for the complete development of the sector's ecosystem have been among EPCH's endeavors for the overall development of the handicrafts sector, leading to the increased exodus," Dr. Rakesh Kumar said, reflecting on the current optimistic sentiment of the handicrafts industry.

By the end of this fiscal year, we want to have crossed the $4 billion mark."

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CREDITS: PBI & Apparel Resources.

05 April 2022, Mumbai:

India achieved all-time high annual merchandise export of USD 417.81 billion in FY 2021-22, an increase of 43.18% over USD 291.81 billion in FY2020-21 and an increase of 33.33% over USD 313.36 billion in FY2019-20.

For the first time, India’s monthly merchandise exports exceeded USD 40 Billion, reaching USD 40.38 billion in March 2022, an increase of 14.53% over USD 35.26 billion in March 2021, and an increase of 87.89% over USD 21.49 billion in March 2020.

ALSO READ Piyush Goyal: India hits historic $400bn merchandise exports

India’s merchandise import in March 2022 was USD 59.07 billion, an increase of 20.79% over USD 48.90 billion in March 2021 and an increase of 87.68% over USD 31.47 billion in March 2020.

RELATED NEWS Piyush Goyal: Time for the Startups to help India become self-reliant

India’s merchandise import in April 2021-March 2022 was USD 610.22 billion, an increase of 54.71% over USD 394.44 billion in April 2020-March 2021 and an increase of 28.55% over USD 474.71 billion in April 2019-March 2020.

The trade deficit in March 2022 was USD 18.69 billion, while it was USD 192.41 billion during April 2021-March 2022.

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CREDITS: PBI (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff)

02 April 2022, Mumbai:

The Government has promulgated the Handlooms (Reservation of Articles for Production) Act, 1985 to protect handlooms weavers from encroachment of the powerloom and mill sector on their livelihood.

11 textiles articles with certain technical specifications are exclusively reserved for production on handlooms.

ALSO READ The Handloom Project joins with Maati by Neha Kabra on a new sustainable line

Appropriate action under provisions of the Act is taken in case of violation.

Central and State Government implementing agencies conduct inspection of powerloom units to ensure that items reserved for production on handlooms are not produced on powerlooms.

During the last three years & current year (as on 28.02.2022) implementing agencies have inspected 11,14,667 powerlooms and lodged 218 FIRs.

RELATED NEWS Textiles Industry: Handloom Census 2019-20, Working Women Count

In addition, the “Scheme for Protection of Handlooms” has provisions for capacity building of State Govt. Enforcement Machinery; awareness programmes etc. in order to curb sale of fake handloom products.

This information was given by the Minister of state for Textiles Smt. Darshana Jardosh in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

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CREDITS: PBI (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff).

01 April 2022, Mumbai:

Cashflow disruption may delay payments to workers & suppliers, hit payments to lenders.

• These are facing technical problems in absence of SWIFT.
• Russian banks with a presence in India issued LCs on behalf of their local importers
• Authorities jointly working to start a new network protocol

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Many tea exporters from south India haven't received payments from Russian buyers.

"The rupee payment has come but the dollar payment has not yet come," said South India Tea Exporters Association chairman Dipak Shah. "We are clue less (about) when the exporters will get their payments.

RELATED NEWS SIMA, CHAIRMAN: Indian Textile Mills concerned about global order cancellations

"It is not only tea which is facing the pain of delayed payments," said Ajay Sahai, director-general of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO). "Engineering, chemicals, plastics too are suffering as their payments have got stuck."

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CREDITS: ET Dt 01-04-2022 (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff).

05 April 2022, Mumbai:

NCTC appeals to the Hon’ble Minister of Textiles to allow duty-free import of cotton to avoid cancellation of orders, production stoppage and job losses.

An Industry Delegation comprising Members of National Committee on Textiles and Clothing (NCTC), today met, the Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution, Shri Piyush Goyal, and submitted a Joint Memorandum to allow duty-free import of cotton not only to tide over the present crisis but also to achieve the desired target set for the Indian T&C Industry for the financial year 2022-23.

ALSO READ

The NCTC delegation comprised of Shri T. Rajkumar, Chairman, Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI), Shri Narendra Goenka, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), Shri Manoj Patodia, Chairman, The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), Shri Ravi Sam, Chairman, The Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA), and Shri Raja M. Shanmugham, President, Tirupur Exporters Association (TEA).

The industry delegation thanked the Hon’ble Prime Minister and Hon’ble Union Minister of Textiles for taking numerous path-breaking and historical policy initiatives that enabled India to achieve US$ 400 billion exports that too prior to scheduled deadline and making India to become the fastest growing economy in the world.

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The total textiles and clothing export increased from US$ 29.454 billion to US$ 39.734 billion (estimated) and recorded a growth of 67% in the financial year 2021-22 in comparison to the previous year.

Similarly, the cotton textile exports also recorded a growth of 56% by reaching US$ 15.056 billion (estimated). The National Committee on Textiles and Clothing (NCTC) delegation apprised the Hon’ble Minister about the shortage of quality cotton that the Textiles and Clothing (T&C).

Industry is facing at the moment on the backdrop of declining domestic cotton production during the current cotton season (around 340 lakh bales of 170 kgs each as against 360-370 lakh bales production in the previous years) and the increased T&C Industry’s demand for cotton (360 lakh bales as against 300 to 320 lakh bales in the previous years) and an estimated export of 50 lakh bales.

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02 April 2022, Mumbai:

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India and Mr. Dan Tehan, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Government of Australia, will sign the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (“IndAus ECTA”) in a virtual ceremony, in the presence of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, H.E. Shri. Narendra Modi and the Hon’ble Prime Minister of Australia, H.E. Scott Morrison tomorrow.

ALSO READ India-Australia look at taking proposed free trade agreement (FTA) to its logical conclusion

Growing India-Australia economic and commercial relations contribute to the stability and strength of a rapidly diversifying and deepening relationship between the two countries.

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The IndAus ECTA, encompassing trade in goods and services, is a balanced and equitable trade agreement, which will further cement the already deep, close and strategic relations between the two countries and will significantly enhance the bilateral trade in goods and services, create new employment opportunities, raise living standards and improve the general welfare of the peoples of the two countries.

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CREDITS: PBI (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff).

31 March 2022, Mumbai:

Giving effect to Union Finance & Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s announcement in Union Budget 2022-23, the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC) today extended the Emergency Credit Line Guarantee Scheme (ECLGS) beyond March 2022, till March 2023.

ALSO READ  Tirupur exporters meet FM, urging to help SMEs

Further, following up on the suggestions received in the post Budget consultations held by the Finance Minister on 25th February 2022 with the Travel, Tourism and Hospitality sector and the Civil Aviation sector delegation led by the Minister of Civil Aviation, NCGTC also issued modifications to the operational guidelines for ECLGS 3.0.

Keeping this in view, the coverage, scope and extent of benefits under ECLGS 3.0 pertaining to hospitality, travel, tourism, and civil aviation sectors have been expanded.

RELATED NEWS On the Udyam platform, over 66 lakh MSMEs have registered, with 95% of them being micro companies

The modifications introduced are aimed at enabling businesses in these contact-intensive sectors to get further support through enhanced coverage and collateral-free liquidity on capped interest rates / fees.

As on 25.3.2022, loans sanctioned under ECLGS have crossed ₹ 3.19 lakh crore, and about 95% of the guarantees issued are for loans sanctioned to Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises.

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CREDITS: PBI (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff)

02 April 2022, Mumbai:

The India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (“IndAus ECTA”) was signed by Shri Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Government of India, and Mr. Dan Tehan, the Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Government of Australia in a virtual ceremony, in the presence of Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi and the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Scott Morrison today.

ALSO READ India-Australia look at taking proposed free trade agreement (FTA) to its logical conclusion

Terming ‘people to people’ relations as the key pillar of the relationship between India and Australia, the Prime Minister said “This agreement will facilitate the exchange of students, professionals, and tourists between us, which will further strengthen these relations.”

Stating that India and Australia are natural partners, connected by shared values of democracy, rule of law & transparency apart from our shared love for Cricket, Food & Movies, Shri Goyal said Ind-Aus ECTA is expected to almost double bilateral trade to about $ 50 Billion in five years.

RELATED NEWS Piyush Goyal: Time for the Startups to help India become self-reliant

Delighted to share that today, under the esteemed presence of Hon’ble PM of Australia Scott Morrison & Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi, India & Australia signed the Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA).

Great potential for Indian exports in sectors like textiles & apparels, leather, hospitality, gems & jewellery, engg. goods & pharma, IT, Startups etc. It is expected to create new employment opportunities, raise living standards & enhance the overall welfare of the peoples of both the countries. Additional employment generation is expected to be 10 lakhs within the next 5 years.

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CREDITS: PBI (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff).

01 April 2022, Mumbai:

The Union government has decided to sell National Textile Corporation (NTC) to boost its operational viability.

For the last two decades, NTC has been incurring losses, though it made a technical profit of Rs 969 crore in FY17.

Several plans to revive the yarn and cloth manufacturer over the decades failed as it had to close down several unviable units.

ALSO READ Tamil Nadu trade unions urge for reopening of 'National Textile Corporation (NTC)' mills

The latest attempt to revive the corporation in 2012 involved a Rs 5,500 crore package by the then Board for Industrial and Financial Reconstruction (BIFR).

The package allocated funds for meeting expenses like clearing up outstanding statutory dues, one-time settlements (OTS) with financial institutions, interest payment and compensation under modified VRS.

RELATED NEWS SIMA: India to face a cotton shortage

Moreover, NTC also spent Rs 1,646 crore on modernization of mills under the revival scheme.

However, the fund infusion failed to revive the corporation as it faced a steep rise in raw material costs.

In FY20, the company reported a 13 percent rise in a net loss to Rs 350 crore.

The company’s turnover declined y 21 percent to Rs 850 crore during the year while its net worth fell by 20 percent to Rs 1,381 crore in FY20. 

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31 March 2022, Mumbai:

Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce & Industry, Consumer Affairs & Food & Public Distribution and Textiles, invited the business community from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to come and capitalise on the business-friendly policies and the opportunities that the emerging India is offering to global businesses.

“With the cost and trust advantage that India offers, it is time to invest in India. As partners, we can secure each other’s economic future and strengthen our partnership in the post-COVID world,” said Shri Goyal.

Shri Goyal was speaking at India’s Honour Day Celebrations at Expo2020 in Dubai.

ALSO READ Piyush Goyal: Time for the Startups to help India become self-reliant

He said, “I believe we are now at the cusp of growth and development in the years to come.

India provides talent and investor friendly policies. In most sectors, FDI is open 100%. We have several new initiatives to promote industry like the Production Linked Incentive scheme and the Make in India policy, our efforts to provide Ease-of-doing-Business, all of which will lead to ease of living for our people,” he added.

“To the global community, I say, 'Come experience India – the land of opportunities'. Let’s grow together, let’s change together, let’s transform together because together we can surmount any obstacles and achieve humongous goals and targets beyond anyone’s imagination,” said the Minister.

RELATED NEWS In 2021, India's domestic textile exports would generate US $ 6.68 billion in income

Goyal said that the new India is fearless and confident where we wish to see the prosperity of every Indian. “Next 25 years in India will signify a strong and inclusive India,” added the Minister. He said the word ‘trust’ describes India-UAE relationship.

“Our ties will remain vibrant and grow from strength to strength,” said the Minister.

Shri Goyal said, “The special partnership that Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi and H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan share is legendary.

RELATED NEWS Piyush Goyal: Industry has responded well to the multiple Government interventions

It’s a bond of eternal friendship symbolising trust and we are natural partners due to the complementary nature of our economies and increasing trade will always showcase the synergy that the two nations have, strengthening further, our bonds.”

“Our shared vision which has opened newer avenues, one of which is the commitment to establish an Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in the United Arab Emirates,” added the Minister.

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CREDITS: PBI (The news article has not been edited by DFU Publications staff)