Exporters Must Must Refocus On Japan, Says Joint Director of Textiles Committee

Trade & Policy

Exporters Must Must Refocus On Japan, Says Joint Director of Textiles Committee

Joint Director of Textiles Committee K S Muralidhara has urged textile exporters who are currently focused on western markets to explore opportunities in Japan. He made the statement after the Textiles Committee and the Japan Textiles Products Quality and Technology Centre (QTEC) conducted an industry capacity building programme in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, recently.

He stated that the potential for exports to Japan is huge since out of the total textile and clothing exports from India, just about two per cent goes to Japan, while out of the total textile and clothing imports by Japan, only one per cent is from India. China happens to be the major supplier to Japan, which is now looking at suppliers from other countries, he said.

However, he stated that Japanese buyers want Indian textile products to be tested at QTEC laboratories since their quality requirements are high and some standards are different from those accepted in western markets. The Textiles Committee has 19 laboratories across India, with equipment to test standards for exports. The Committee will look at upgrading these laboratories jointly with QTEC or QTEC could set up its laboratories at the 19 facilities which already exist, he said.

The Textiles Committee and the QTEC recently signed an agreement to sensitise the Indian textile industry about quality and regulatory requirements of the Japanese market and their standards, he said. As per this agreement, capacity building programmes are being conducted in nine cities, which will conclude in Mumbai, he said.