India to boost textile trade with Lanka

A high level textile industry delegation from India arrived in Colombo last week to strengthen the textile trade between the two countries. The delegation comprised government officials and representatives from the private sector, a Ministry of Industries and Commerce source said.

"We warmly welcome the high level textile delegation which is here in the aftermath of Minister Anand Sharma's recent visit to Colombo to boost bilateral cooperation. The latest visit is an important event for our apparel sector and Minister Sharma has decided to include four high-ranking Secretaries under him showing the seriousness of the Indian textile sector," said Minister of Industry and Commerce, Rishad Bathiudeen.

"This visit will also help us to increase our garment exports to India," the Minister said.

"In 2011, Sri Lanka exported $ 50 m worth of garments, woven fabrics and other textiles to India. Lanka's "garment exports" to India was $ 25.56 m in 2011 and garments were Sri Lanka's fifth largest export item to India," a spokesman for the Ministry of Industries and Commerce said.

"India was ranked 14th from among 40 countries to which Sri Lanka exported garments in 2011. The total value of our garment exports last year was $3,986m."

Among the Indian delegation are Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Mrs. Kiran Dhingra, Joint Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Textiles, V. Srinivas, Joint Secretary to Government of India, Ministry of Textiles, Mrs. Sunaina Tomar and Under Secretary to the Government of India, Ministry of Textiles, J.P. Dutt.

Among the top apparel exporters due are Lalit Gulati of Modelama Exports Ltd, a manufacturer and exporter of Readymade garments, Chairman, Export Promotion - AEPC and Trendsetters Ltd, Sudhir Sekri, Chairman AEPC and Richa Group, Virendra Uppal.

The other Indian private sector apparel producers and entities in the delegation are Mafatlala Denim Ltd, Texprocil, Sri Gomathy Mills (Pvt) Ltd, AEPC, Cotton Textiles Export Council TEXPROCIL and Powerloom Development and Export Promotion Council.