IBTEX No. 72 of 2016 April 07, 2016

USD 66.25 | EUR 75.48| GBP 94.18| JPY 0.59

Spot Prices of Overseas Ring Spun in Indicative Prices of Grey Fabrics in China Chinese Market Date: 9 Mar-2016 FOB Price Date: 9-Mar-2016 Price (Post-Tax) (Pre-Tax) Description Prices Prices (USD/Kg.) (Domestic Production) (Yuan/Meter) Country C32Sx32S 130x70 63” 2/1 fine 20S 30S 7.20 Carded Carded India 2.10 2.30 C40Sx40S 133X72 63” 1/1 6.40 Indonesia 2.81 3.26 C40Sx40S 128X68 67” 2/1 twill 6.00-6.20 Pakistan 2.22 2.60 24Sx24S 72x60 54” 1/1 Turkey 2.60 2.80 4.60 Source CCF Group 20Sx20S 60x60 63” 1/1 plain cloth 6.20

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS No Topics 1 Myanmar: industry set for significant growth: report 2 Fast fashion to ethical couture: Vietnam's design evolution 3 Cone Celebrates 125 Years Of Denim Ingenuity 4 China Interdye 2016 and China 2016 to Take Place in Shanghai on April 13th 5 USA: Maharam create new upholstery textile combining sustainable manufacturing 6 Pakistan : Government urged to reinstate seven percent duty on yarn 7 How Cotton Became The Fabric Of The Industrial Age 8 Bangladesh: BGMEA seeks reintroduction of special corporate tax 9 Myanmar targets $12 bn of garment exports by 2020 10 B'desh textile export to Eurozone gets a boost 11 USA: Smart Textiles Devices will Double in Twelve Months 12 Vietnamese local investors lack interest in garment, textile materials field NATIONAL NEWS 1 ‘Indian textile exports can be taken to $300b by 2025’ 2 Australia ‘ready to remove tariffs’ on Indian goods 3 CSIDC identifies 30 ha land for textile park 4 Being Human targets to open 30 more stores by FY17 5 Commerce Ministry to pitch for priority sector status for export credit 6 Nepali traders seek suspension of countervailing duty in India

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Myanmar: Textile industry set for significant growth: report

Myanmar’s clothing industry is forecast to grow up to 1.5 million jobs in the garment industry by 2020 compared with approximately 230,000 in mid-2015, according to a report by Textile Intelligence on the Industry website.

The first Western brand to source from Myanmar was H&M in 2013 followed by Gap in 2014 and these companies appear to have paved the way for others to follow, said the report.

Foreign direct investment (FDI) in the garment industry has been growing at an impressive pace in recent years and, following the removal of most sanctions, clothing exports from Myanmar shot up by 26.5 percent in 2013 and by a further 27.4 percent in 2014.

To plan for expansion, the Myanmar government has published a strategy report for the textile and garment industry as part of a document entitled National Export Strategy 2015-2019.

The report looks at the development of the textile and clothing industry in Myanmar, its size and structure, and , textile and clothing production. The also features information relating to: garment and manufacturing equipment in Myanmar; companies sourcing from Myanmar; Myanmar's clothing exports and export strategy; and the domestic market.

Observers are divided about the industry’s long-term growth prospects, and many issues remain to be resolved if it is to achieve the status of its bigger rivals, such as Vietnam, China and other Asian countries in the garment exporting industry.

Issues include outdated machinery, an antiquated infrastructure, a weak education system and other issues.

Source: mizzima .com– Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

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Fast fashion to ethical couture: Vietnam's design evolution

Long a bastion for cheap, fast-fashion manufacturing, a new crop of designers are trying to transform the Made in Vietnam label and save the country's rich ethnic heritage in the process.

In the remote hills of Cao Bang, some 300 kilometres north of the capital Hanoi, Vietnamese designer Thao Vu is gleefully dropping swaths of hand-spun cotton into a large bucket of fermented indigo leaves.

Her label, Kilomet 109, is at the forefront of Vietnam's new 'ethical fashion' movement — an approach to design that seeks to maximise benefit to communities while minimising environmental harm.

The 38-year-old designer has been tapping into this growing global trend by working with some of Vietnam's 54 ethnic minority groups, each of which have their own unique textiles and traditional clothing designs.

"I learn the techniques from them," Thao told AFP, explaining how she has drawn inspiration from Nung women in Phuc Sec village, who use natural dyes and weave on hand looms.

She then adds "a more modern, contemporary touch" to style garments that will appeal to clients in fashion capitals like Berlin and New York. But bridging this divide isn't always easy.

Thao said the Nung women were shocked when she suggested experimenting with colours outside of their traditional dark indigo shade.

"They looked at me like 'what'? And they said: 'if you lived here you wouldn't find a husband,'" Thao told AFP, explaining that crafting the perfect dark indigo fabric dye is a prerequisite for marriage in their community.

Thao persevered, and now uses traditional roots and leaves to colour organic , cotton, and , which are also manufactured from scratch, in a range of hues from deep indigo to pale grey, and earthy oranges and browns.

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Returning to the roots

Vietnam has in recent decades become a hub for massive garment factories that churn out reams of cheap clothes as quickly as possible for fashion giants like Zara, Mango and H&M.

The multi-billion dollar sector has helped drive impressive economic growth but also drawn criticism for weak environmental and labour rights regulations.

Yet products made by the country's traditional fabric spinners are inherently eco friendly — made with natural dyes and textiles, not harsh chemicals or synthetic fibres. And there is not a sweat shop in sight.

"At first, I just wanted to keep the traditional techniques alive... but then I realised we need to be concerned about the environmental, ethical side (of fashion) now or it will be too late," said Thao.

The designer has already attracted accolades, winning international design awards and selling her wares to high-fashion buyers.

The local women who work with her, such as Luong Thi Kim, 40, say they too have benefited from the colloboration.

"Before I weaved for personal use but now ... our products can go to other countries. I want to earn money to raise my children," Kim told AFP.

Over in central Hue — the former imperial capital of Vietnam — another label is also helping local artisans market their skills to the global fashion industry.

Fashion4Freedom founder LanVy Nguyen, a former refugee who fled post-war Vietnam in a wooden boat and forged a successful Wall Street career, returned to Vietnam in 1998 and decided to use her venture capital acumen to save ancient artisanal techniques.

"We knew these people had generations of skill, we just had to unlock it so the market could appreciate it as we did," LanVy told AFP.

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Fashion4Freedom stepped in to help, teaching traditional woodworkers, who carve ornate pillars in pagodas or local houses, to learn how to make platform shoes that cost some US$600 a pair.

Do Quang Thanh, a carpenter, said the idea of making shoes initially struck him as "strange" but he is glad he gave it a try.

"In the past I carved traditional wooden houses now I carve shoes in a modern style — I love the job," he said.

Foreign buyers keen

Jimmy Lepore Hagan, vice president of strategy for high-end US clothing line Nanette Lepore, said he's considering a collaboration with Fashion4Freedom, which also sells luxury jewelry and apparel.

"Taking a brand's idea (and) design aesthetic, and matching that with people who have an incredible culture and history and are trying to build something new and exciting for US market is a real opportunity," he added.

The head of Vietnam's handicraft export association, Le Ba Ngoc, sees linking Vietnamese artisans with overseas fashion designers as a chance to embrace more sophisticated designs — what he says is the weak link in the handicraft chain.

"It's the major factor holding back foreign and domestic sales," he told AFP.

Ensuring consistent quality is also a problem.

But his organisation is trying to work with ethnic groups to find ways to modernise their techniques — such as developing an Indigo powder dye — while still remaining true to their style.

Source: thesundaily.my– Apr 07, 2016 HOME *****************

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Cone Denim Celebrates 125 Years Of Denim Ingenuity

Cone Denim celebrates 125 Years of denim ingenuity this week with a two- day celebration in its hometown of Greensboro, N.C. Top denim brands and designers from around the country will attend the events on April 5 and 6.

“This is a tremendous milestone for Cone Denim and the overall heritage of American denim,” says Ken Kunberger, President & CEO of International Textile Group and Cone Denim. “There are so many people that have contributed to our success and establishing the Cone Denim brand as the hallmark of American denim ingenuity — from our founders to a century of talented employees and supportive community to our dedicated supply partners and passionate customers. We are so appreciative of the support and enthusiasm for Cone Denim and look forward to another century of denim leadership.”

The history of Cone Denim dates back 125 years when two brothers, Moses and Ceasar Cone, born to Bavarian immigrants, first set into motion their vision of a marketing-based textile company. The Cones purchased more than 2000 acres in Greensboro and built the first plant, Proximity, named for its close “proximity” to the cotton fields which supplied its .

The Revolution mill was built in 1899 expanding the company’s offerings with new styles. At the turn of the century the brothers embarked on what would become the largest denim plant in the world, and White Oak began operations in April 1905.

White Oak’s heritage of authenticity and innovation continue to inspire today with its re-creation of vintage selvage denim, fashioned after the constructions of the early 1900s and woven today on American Draper X- 3 fly shuttle looms.

Early innovations included the development of long chain indigo dyeing, denim sanforization, and Cone’s Deeptone Denim, introduced in 1936. The White Oak mill operates today as Cone Denim’s global flagship operation, serving as the creative center for new product development and innovation led by Cone® 3D, the brand’s R&D group.

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Cone Denim redefines contemporary denims with new sustainable and performance characteristics including its evolving line of performance denims offering patented S-Gene® stretch, high-performance strength, moisture management and cooling properties, and blends and treatments not traditionally available in denim. Cone Denim practices sustainable manufacturing across its global network of mills focused on energy and water conservation, alternative fuels, recycling and sustainable cotton initiatives.

The two-day 125 anniversary celebration includes tours of the White Oak mill, a tribute party at the Revolution Mill Event Center (converted from the original mill) and a Design Challenge and Runway Competition featuring original designs by students from North Carolina State University’s College of Textiles made from White Oak selvage denim.

Jurors for the Design Challenge are industry icons Francois Girbaud, Founder & Owner Marithé + Francois Girbaud; Scott Morrison, Founder, President & Designer 3X1; Amy Leverton of Denim Dudes; and Victor Lytvinenko, Founder Raleigh Denim Workshop.

Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan will proclaim April 6th Cone Denim Day in Greensboro as part of a downtown celebration that evening. Downtown banners will display throughout the month of April recognizing the milestone anniversary.

Source. textileworld.com - Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

China Interdye 2016 and China Textile Printing 2016 to Take Place in Shanghai on April 13th

The 16th China International Dye Industry, Pigments and Textile Chemicals Exhibition (China Interdye 2016) and China International , Printing and Dyeing Automatics Exhibition (China Textile Printing 2016), organized by the China Dyestuff Industry Association, the China Dyeing and Printing Association and China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Shanghai Sub-Council and co- organized by Shanghai International Exhibition Service Co., Ltd., will be held at the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center from

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News Clippings the 13th to the 15th of April, 2016. The 40,000-square meter exhibition area will house 620 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions. Exhibits will include a variety of advanced environmentally-friendly dyestuffs, organic pigments, catalysts, intermediates and environmentally-sound equipment as well as digital textile printing products and equipment in addition to printing and dyeing automation technologies and materials. The comprehensive lineup of exhibitors will serve as a platform for meaningful exchanges and collaborations that are expected to boost innovation and lead to a transformation across the industry.

A retrospective: China's dyestuffs industry maintained overall growth during the 12th Fifth Year period (from 2011 to 2015)

In tandem with the ongoing recovery of the global economy and the economy of traditional export destinations for China's textile industry such as the US, Europe, Japan and South Korea, as well as constructive progress of the domestic textile industry's shift to the middle and western parts of China and a growing domestic consumption market, the dyestuffs industry, the upstream segment of the textile industry, experienced mild and stable growth as the entire industry became increasingly mature and technology-oriented during the five years spanning 2011 to 2015.

During the five-year period, China's dyestuffs industry recorded an aggregate industrial output value of 250.46 billion yuan (approx. US$41.1 billion), with an annual growth rate of 8 per cent. Sales of dyestuffs generated 237.06 billion yuan, with an annual growth rate of 6 per cent, while 5.43 million tons of pigment were produced, backed by an yearly growth rate of 4 per cent.

Output of dyestuffs stood at 4.337 million tons, increasing 4.5 per cent annually, while 1.091 million tons of organic pigments were produced, at an annual 1.2 per cent rate of growth.

During the period, industrial output value grew 33.34 per cent while sales revenue increased 30.22 per cent compared to the previous five-year period. Output of dyestuffs grew 20.33 per cent while organic pigments increased 12.01 per cent.

It is expected that the pigments sector will maintain stable growth this year.

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The exhibition drives continued growth of homegrown textile chemicals brands and adds a seminar on textile digital printing

In 2016, the first year of China's 13th five-year plan (2016-2020), a period during which it will behoove manufacturers to update business models and structure given the current economic conditions and the policies regarding energy saving, emission reduction, environmental protection and ecological safety are tightened, Chinese textile chemicals companies will be expected to accelerate transformation in several areas, including technological research and development, international expansion and brand visibility.

This year's exhibition has attracted a number of international exhibitors, including Dystar, Pulcra Chemicals, Chia Her Industrial, Braun, Tanatex, Yorkshire Chem, Evonik Industries AG, Huntsman and Lamberti, demonstrating the show's high reputation and recognition across the global community. The event is set to drive the continued growth of homegrown brands as many leading Chinese textile chemicals makers, including Zhejiang Longsheng Group, Zhejiang Runtu, Transfar, Yabang Chemical, Hangzhou Jihua Group and Dymatic Chemicals, plan to exhibit a complete range of new high-end, high performance and environmentally friendly products and technologies, serving to demonstrate the transformation that is already taking place across the sector. In addition, more exhibitors from India, South Korea and Taiwan are expected to take part in the exhibition.

The Chinese digital printing sector offers vast growth potential as it continues to transition from small and customized production to mass production and industrialization.

At China Textile Printing 2016, many reputed Chinese and international firms plan to showcase their latest digital printing and dyeing automation technologies, including MS, Reggiani, Honghua Digital Technology, Hangzhou Kaiyuan Dyeing Technology, Phantom Technology, Human Digital, Saishun, Hongmei, Hongda, Shanghai NewTech Textile, Antelos and Tianjin Jingli Digital Technology.

The exhibition will add a seminar on textile digital printing co-hosted by the Printing Technology Committee of the China Dyeing and Printing Association and a group of exhibitors.

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The seminar will discuss the industrialized progress and direction of the Chinese digital printing sector as it moves to create a green and smart printing and dyeing ecosystem.

Concurrent events will include several specialized seminars being organized by Chinese industry associations, including the China Dyeing and Printing Association, the China Cotton Textile Association, the China Knitting Industrial Association, the China Bast and Leaf Textile Association and the Color Masterbatch Speciality, Catalyst and Organic Pigment Committees of the China Dyestuff Industry Association.

Additionally, during the exhibition, a number of well-known exhibitors, including Transfar, Pulcra Chemicals, Shanghai Liansheng Chemical, Intertek, Testex and Youtell Biochemical, will host exchange meetings where advanced technologies and concepts will be presented, providing professional buyers and visitors with an excellent opportunity for technological exchanges and cooperation.

China Interdye 2016's Asian tour to continue the implementation of its "One Belt and One Road" strategy and to return to Turkey

During the "12th Five Year" period, China mainly and steadily exported dyestuffs to Asian countries and regions, with Indonesia, South Korea, Taiwan and Turkey the top four destinations in terms of export volume.

Among the top ten destination countries and regions, shipments to Bangladesh and Vietnam showed the greatest average growth. Notably, China Interdye 2014's Asian tour in Vietnam served to set up a bridge for the growing dyestuffs trade between the two countries, and contributed to a great extent to the increased level of exports to Vietnam.

The 6th Asian tour of China Interdye 2016 will return to Turkey and be held at CNR EXPO in Istanbul between November 10th and 12th.

The Asian tour plans to continue implementing the "One Belt and One Road" strategy, expanding into international markets and creating international brands for manufacturers, as well as improving China's competitiveness in the international dyestuff market and accelerating the drive for the international development of the country's dyestuff industry.

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Source : prnewswire.com - Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

USA: Maharam create new upholstery textile combining sustainable manufacturing

The Maharam Design Studio recognized for its rigorous and holistic commitment to design as a leading provider of textiles to architects and interior designers has introduced a new range of upholstery textiles combining sustainable manufacturing with luxurious design and vibrant colours for dramatic commercial and residential interiors.

Mode from the Maharam Design Studio is a high-performance, vibrantly coloured textile offering the look and feel of .

Heavier-denier have been used to create a substantial hopsack weave in lush two-tone colourations. A cross-dye method renders two variously luminous and contrasting colours with both heathered and solid effects.

Mode offers an expansive palette of forty-three colourways covering a spectrum of lighter tints and deep brights that meet functional objectives while being fashion-forward.

Despite the comfortable, wool-like texture of the Mode collection, the textile is constructed to provide stretch and ease of application. Exceeding 100,000 double rubs, Mode is suitable for upholstery as well as systems and upholstered wall applications.

The Mode textile collection is also aligned with Maharam’s commitment to continually reduce the environmental impact of its products.

Mode is constructed of 80% post-consumer recycled , consisting of fibres manufactured from waste that’s been used by the consumer, disposed of, and diverted from landfills.

Mode is additionally Greenguard and Greenguard Gold Certified.

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The Maharam Design Studio governs the research, engineering, design, and development of textiles for commercial and residential interiors.

Balancing an appreciation of history with innovative interdisciplinary exploration, the studio focuses on four main themes: utility,

Source: yarnsandfibers.com - Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

Pakistan : Government urged to reinstate seven percent duty on yarn

Chairman of Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (Sindh and Balochistan Zone) Khawar Noorani has urged the government to support and save traders of imported synthetic textile raw material by reinstating 7 percent duty on yarn in order to pass on the benefits to weaving and knitting industry.

In a communiqué issued to Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, PYMA Chairman, while referring to an advertisement appearing in the press in which appeal has been made to impose 20 percent Regulatory Duty on polyester yarn and fabric, stated that Pakistan Yarn Merchants Association (PYMA) is the sole body representing the yarn trade so the Ministry of Commerce must take serious notice of this misleading appeal by a fictitious group based.

He was of the view that the correct forum for remedial action against dumping is National Tariff Commission.

The local polyester yarn manufacturers (Gatron and Rupali) have already filed an application with NTC and investigation has been initiated last month. He said that PYMA is vigorously defending the interests of yarn importers and local weaving knitting industry.

"We intend to prove that there is no injury to the local producers of polyester filament yarn because of imports of yarns from China and Malaysia.

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The real reasons why the local manufacturers of polyester yarn are suffering is because their plants are outdated and do not have the economies of scale. Consequently, they produce bad quality substandard yarn at a high price", he added.

Khawar Noorani stated that no weavers or knitters want to make his basic raw material expensive by asking for Regulatory Duty. As far as the import of fabric is concerned, local weavers do have legitimate concerns but the solution is not regulatory duty.

The fabric which is being imported and is hurting the local industry is actually the Indian Origin fabric which was banned but due to the corruption, these goods were being allowed to enter Pakistani markets on the pretext that the origin was either Dubai or China.

In order to solve the problems facing the industry, PYMA Chairman suggested that National Tariff Commission is the only right forum to address the issues of dumping. He is of the view that regulatory duties may solve the issue temporarily but they always cause distortions and create bigger problems in the long run .

He suggested that fabric imports from Dubai should be put on the negative list as there were no weaving/knitting factories in Dubai hence, the Indian origin fabric was simply being routed via Dubai.

Khawar Noorani recalled that the textile package was envisioned by the Government of Pakistan in 2005 in which it was agreed by all stakeholders that in order to bring fabric trade under legal umbrella, the maximum duty on fabric should not exceed 15 percent and the duty on yarn was fixed at 7 percent.

Over a period of years, the duty on yarn has been raised to 11 percent, causing distortions and making raw material for the downstream industry more expensive, he noted, and suggest the government to restore 7 percent duty on yarn.

Source: brecorder.com - Apr 07, 2016 HOME *****************

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How Cotton Became The Fabric Of The Industrial Age

“He who says the Industrial Revolution says cotton,” according to one standard text, and cotton textiles were among the first products produced in recognizably modern factories.

But as the story proceeds, we usually focus on the machinery, not the fiber; it seems coincidental that the birth of the factory coincided with a switch in Europe’s principal fiber crop. In fact, it was anything but.

Had cotton (long the fiber crop of choice in most of Asia) not replaced flax and wool as Europe’s leading cloth source, it is hard to imagine the Industrial Revolution taking the same course. And had Europeans had to grow the crop themselves, rather than on New World plantations, the increased demands on their land, water, and labor supplies could easily have short-circuited the process.

Cotton was known in India over 2,000 years ago (as was a machine quite close to the modern cotton gin); it spread slowly to the east, north and west. It was easier to twist into yarn than hemp, and much more comfortable to wear.

By roughly 1300, it had spread from West Africa to Japan. It was not cultivated in Europe, but it was known there as well. During a medieval wool shortage, Venetian merchants brought the new fiber from Aleppo (in modern-day Syria), where it was combined with wool to make an ersatz cloth called . But these imports were limited. For the next 400 years, cotton largely by-passed Europe while conquering Africa and Asia.

In China, cotton cloth gradually became the fabric of choice for almost everybody; peasants wore the coarser grades and even the very rich wore some in rotation with their .

The range of quality—and price—was enormous: An 18th century document records that some of the cotton cloth used in temple rituals cost 200 times as much per yard as the grade used by most ordinary people. In India, there were not only cottons of all qualities, but a wide variety of cotton-silk blends, which became the standard of excellence throughout the Old World.

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Buyers as far away as West Africa and Southeast Asia would draw patterns that merchants would then take back to India, where a particular village with whom that merchant had connections (usually indirect ones) would create fabrics to order for the next trading season.

In the 1600s and 1700s, the Europeans got in on the act, too, purchasing so many cheap, high-quality Indian cottons that they provoked riots among English woolens workers, and various acts of protective legislation by Parliament.

But unlike with silk—where the Europeans made endless efforts to learn to produce the yarn at home—cotton plants were never imported to Europe on any significant scale. This may have been just as well for Europe, because self-sufficiency in cotton fiber came at considerable ecological cost for various parts of Asia.

In China’s Lower Yangzi region (near present-day Shanghai), huge amounts of soybean cake fertilizer had to be imported (mostly from Manchuria) to replenish the overworked soil; by the mid-eighteenth century the quantity of soybeans used for this purpose could have fed about 3 million people per year if used that way.

In Japan, it was the sea that provided the needed ecological relief for cotton-growing land. Japanese fisheries expanded enormously in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, mostly in the direction of Sakhalin Island (leading to various tense encounters with eastward- moving Russians), but most of the catch was not eaten; instead, it, too, was used mostly as fertilizer, and mostly for land growing cotton. (Paddy rice, the biggest food crop in both China and Japan, produces very high per-acre yields with a minimum of fertilizer.)

And cotton is a thirsty crop, too. By the early 19 century, North China peasants growing cotton were finding that they needed to re-dig most of their wells because of a sinking water table—a problem that has reached crisis dimensions in that region today.

Europeans, meanwhile, were still using much more flax and wool than cotton even in the mid-18th century; through much of the 17th and 18th centuries, Parliament kept passing subsidies to encourage more flax

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News Clippings production (with very limited success) rather than trying to secure greater supplies of raw cotton.

But two related events—industrialization and population growth—made continuing with those fibers more or less impossible. First of all, 18th century inventions made it possible to spin cotton into yarn, and weave the yarn into cloth, mechanically, achieving astonishing results: a roughly one hundredfold gain in yarn spun per hour over a few decades. Figuring out how to machine-spin oily, rubbery flax took considerably longer, though the problem was eventually solved.

Europeans did quickly figure out how to spin and weave wool mechanically—though not quite as well or as quickly as with cotton—but wool presented different problems.

First of all, it was not what was wanted in many strategic markets— especially in the Tropics, where cloth was exchanged for slaves in Africa and used to clothe them in the Americas. Worse yet, wool production faced serious ecological limits.

Sheep-raising requires far more land per pound of fiber obtained than raising fiber crops, and as population grew, there simply wasn’t enough land available for this relatively low-return-per-acre use. In fact, replacing just the cotton imported by Britain in 1830 with wool would have required over 23 million acres–more than the entire farm and pasture land of Britain! And the problem would only have gotten worse over time, since Britain’s cotton imports rose by 20 times from 1815 to 1900.

The solution, of course, was cotton from the New World, especially the American South. Imported slaves did the labor, while rural Europe disgorged workers to become factory operatives.

Though cotton was very tough on the soil, the land supply in the New World seemed virtually limitless.

England’s new textile mills hummed along, heralding a new economic era, while those who produced their own cotton close to home wrestled with environmental decay, land and water shortages, and the need to increase their agricultural labor forces to keep local looms and spindles going

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Source: globaltrademag.com - Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

BGMEA seeks reintroduction of special corporate tax

The Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) has proposed the reintroduction of 10 per cent special corporate tax rate and reduction of tax at source to 0.30 per cent from existing 0.60 per cent in the next fiscal year for attracting investment and help sustain competitiveness. In its budget proposals for fiscal year 2016-17, the BGMEA also demanded special tax rate sought a five-year extension for reduced tax benefit for the country's apparel makers that was last extended till 2014.

The BGMEA recently gave its proposals to the National Board of Revenue (NBR) for its consideration in the next national budget.

"Cost of doing business has increased by 12 per cent in recent times due to wage hike and transportation costs, among others, while local currency has been appreciated by 8.43 per cent against US dollar," the BGMEA said.

On the other hand, buyers are reducing prices of apparel items, it said in the proposal demanding 10 per cent special tax rate and 0.30 per cent tax at source in the next budget.

The factory owners are investing a huge amount of money in carrying out remediation works and retrofitting according to the prescription of Accord, Alliance and National Action Plan to ensure workplace safety, the association said adding the re-introduction of special tax rate and reduction of tax at source will help the sector to attract more investment.

The apparel apex body also proposed tax benefit for different segments of machinery import from various parts of the world under the same HS Code and LED light with fixture.

The BGMEA demanded 5 per cent special cash incentive for exports in new markets and 2 per cent cash support for exports in the European Union for the next three years.

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The Association's other proposals include increase in audit document submission time to six months from existing three months, duty-free import facility of all kinds of fire equipment and their parts and inclusion of machinery and parts' names including LED tube light, bulbs, fire-proof paint for pre-fabricated building materials, and industrial lighting protection equipment in Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO).

Source: fibre2fashion.com - Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

Myanmar targets $12 bn of garment exports by 2020

Myanmar's garment industry has set an ambitious export revenue target of $12 billion and create around 1.5 million new jobs by 2020, the Myanmar Garment Entrepreneurs Association has announced.

The industry has gained momentum since 2014 when its export earnings amounted to $1.5 million. By mid-2015, the industry created over 230,000 jobs.

The local garment industry, including the CMP system, receives a massive inflow of foreign investments. Foreign investments in the industry amounted to 26.5 per cent of the total investment in 2013, 27.4 per cent in 2014 and 29 per cent in 2015. Among the foreign investors are major brands such Sweden's H&M and America's GAP.

Myanmar's minimum wage is now the lowest in Asean countries at 3,600 kyats or about $3 per day.

The garment sector is included in Myanmar's National Export Strategy (2015-2019) as part of a strategy to boost the country's export income to narrow down huge trade deficits.

Last year, the Myanmar government agreed to implement the Initiative on Labour Law Reform and Institutional Capacity Building to improve labour rights and practices in the country.

Source: fibre2fashion.com - Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

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Bangladesh textile export to Eurozone gets a boost

The Bangladesh government has revised the cash incentive scheme for the fiscal year of 2015-2016, raising the rate of incentive for textile products export to the Eurozone area and leather goods.

According to a circular, the government increased the rate of cast incentive for export of textile products to the Eurozone area to six per cent from the current four per cent.

The sector gets cash incentive as an alternative to the duty bonds and duty drawbacks facility.

The rate of cash incentive for export of leather goods has also been increased to 15 per cent from the current 12.5 per cent.

The exporters who have already received the cash incentive at the existing rate will also be allowed for the additional benefit. They will have to apply within 30 days of the issuance of the circular.

Source: fibre2fashion.com - Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

USA: Smart Textiles Devices will Double in Twelve Months

Smart textiles that have devices embedded in them will double in every twelve months.

Cambridge, MA-based Massachusetts of Technology (MIT), which led the effort to create a public-private partnership consortium Advanced Functional Fabrics of America Alliance (AFFOA) hosted the launching event on April 1, wherein Defense Secretary Ashton Carter made the announcement of the creation of AFFOA with US$317 million commitment to create a textile revolution in the United States.

Speaking at the event as the host, Dr. Rafael Reif, the 17th President of MIT stated that in an industry that is yet to be invented, the number of devices in fiber will double in every twelve months.

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He christened this growth curve as “AFFOA Law” modeled after Moore’s Law, which the semiconductor industry uses to gauge its growth. Although, it is indeed premature and quite early to predict how the smart textiles industry will evolve, at least it creates an optimistic mood in the textile sector that badly needs growth and increase in job numbers.

Professor Yoel Fink, who is the principal lead in the consortium effort at MIT, echoes President Reif’s sentiments that the functions in a fiber will grow in a similar fashion as was the case with computer chips.

Textile industry has activities to look forward to with the creation of AFFOA institute. One immediate need is to precisely define what exactly are smart fabrics? Although not precisely defined, textiles with functional characteristics such as phase change materials, textiles with electronics, etc., are all considered as smart textiles, these days. Other tasks will be to establish standards, solving problems such as cost and durability issues, etc.

By formally bringing, workforce solution groups and R & D people together, AFFOA has sent a signal that it will endeavor to create a new textile sector that will have advanced products and good job prospects.

AFFOA law may be an ambitious target during the initial phase of the new textile revolution, but certainly growth in the textile sector is expected to happen.

Source: texsnips.com - Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

Vietnamese local investors lack interest in garment, textile materials field

At a conference hosted by the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas) recently, economic expert said that Vietnamese businesses in the field of garment and textile material have been showing lack of interest due to low profit margin and long payback period.

They forecast that Vietnam now has 5,028 garment and textile businesses while the number of material suppliers is only 604.

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The material deficiency has created which is unlikely to improve in the next five years.

At the same time much room has been created for businesses to join in this field. However, mostly investors have been foreign direct investment (FDI) firms than local investors.

According to data by Vitas, FDI capital to the garment and textile industry has reached US$2 billion by the end of last year. Local businesses have lacked funds and needed assistance mechanisms to attend the supply chain.

On the other side, many provinces and cities have limited licensing textile and weaving projects to prevent environmental pollution although they are two indispensible phase off cloth production. This has contributed in making a number of Vietnamese products fail to meet origin rules and enjoy incentives from free trade agreements.

More than 60 percent of small and medium enterprises in Vietnam have investment direction in 5-10 years instead of 50 years as Japanese firms. This originates from the instability of Government policies to attract and assist investors.

Besides, current regulations have showed many problems and badly affected businesses’ investment and development strategies. Therefore material projects with payback period of 20 years or longer have not been chosen by local investors. A representative of Hoan My Company said that the company had to spend $25 billion on a zipper plant and much more to weaving machines.

Source: yarnsandfibers.com - Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

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NATIONAL NEWS

‘Indian textile exports can be taken to $300b by 2025’

The Indian textile industry, which has been registering a slide on the export front, perceives that with focused trade policy support and by moving up the value chain, the industry can achieve the export target of $300 billion by 2025.

Conceding that “Transpacific Trade Partnership (TPP) is a natural threat,” the secretary of Indian Texpreneurs’ Federation (ITF) D Prabhu said, “It may not take away the country’s textile and clothing business completely. However, to achieve the export target, India should press for reduction of Chinese import and the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership).”

Access to US market

Explaining the implication of TPP, he said, “Exporters from TPP member countries (of which India is not a member) tend to get preferential access to the US market.”

“The US apparel imports account for roughly $82 billion, but India’s supplies is just about $3.7 billion (₹25,000 crore approx). India’s apparel exports to the US have been sliding since 2010-11. If duty turns disadvantageous for the country’s apparel exports, then this share could further fall,” Prabhu said.

Yarn forward rule (YFR) makes it mandatory to source yarn, fabrics and other inputs from TPP member countries, basically to avail duty preference.

“The option before Indian businesses therefore would be to consider relocating to Vietnam (a TPP partner and among the 12 countries including the US, Australia, Peru, Malaysia, New Zealand, Chile, Singapore, Canada, Mexico, Brunei Darussalam and Japan) to avail TPP duty advantage, but this proposition may not be feasible considering that labour is highly expensive in Vietnam compared to India,” he added.

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Alternative markets

To tide over the situation, India should seek improved export market access from China under RCEP, at alternative export markets in emerging regions of Africa, South Asia, CIS and Latin America, Prabhu said.

The country will need to address the issue of inverted duties (that is a situation of higher duties on fibre and lower duties on apparel), push aggressively for inclusion of textile and apparel items under India- Mercosur PTA, expedite FTA with Russian Customs Unions (it can be a big market in the coming years), make it mandatory for all least developed countries to use fabrics made in India if they want to export their apparels to India duty free and request the US to include apparel items in its GSP programme, the ITF secretary added.

Source : thehindubusinessline.com– Apr 07, 2016 HOME *****************

Australia ‘ready to remove tariffs’ on Indian goods

Australia is ready to eliminate import duties on all items from India — about 90 per cent immediately and rest over the next five years — as part of the proposed free trade agreement (FTA) being negotiated, the country’s special envoy for trade Andrew Robb said.

The free trade pact — officially known as the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) — is likely to be finalised in about 6-8 weeks, Robb told BusinessLine.

This would translate into import duties on more than 9,000 items out of about 11,000 exported to Australia coming down to near zero as soon as the pact gets implemented and benefit sectors like auto parts, textiles, leather and pharmaceuticals.

The country has also agreed to ease visa norms for Indian workers as part of the pact, especially for intra-corporate transfers (ICT), the trade envoy said.

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“In both goods and services, we have offered India the best of what we have extended to our other FTA partners. In fact, in the area of movement of natural persons (easier work visas), the offers made to India are better than what we have given any other country till now,” Robb said.

Lower duties

Australia, on its part, wants India to lower duties in wines and high-end dairy products collaborate in the services sector and provide stability on investment policies.

“We understand the sensitivities that India has in the goods sector. But, there are certain items such as high-end dairy products and wine where there is no domestic competition and duties can be lowered,” Robb said. The Australian trade envoy’s optimism on an early conclusion of the CECA is shared by Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman who met Robb to iron out the remaining tricky parts of the pact on Monday.

“The CECA negotiations are moving very close to conclusion,” Sitharaman said at an interaction with the media on Tuesday.

The proposed India-Australia CECA seeks to lower barriers in market access for goods, services as well as investments and bring about alignment in customs procedures and standards. Australia has signed FTAs with China, South Korea and Japan in the last two years and is also part of the US-led Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP).

Robb said that while Australia could provide expertise to India in a host of services such as construction, engineering, water management, health and education, it wanted the CECA to provide an assurance that India’s policies related to investments in a particular sector would not change in the middle of project-execution.

“Our companies want policy certainty, so we are pushing for a grand- fathering provision that would ensure that the old rules would continue to apply on a particular project that is being executed even if the rules change mid-way,” Robb said. India-Australia bilateral trade was about $14 billion in 2014-15, with Australian exports at $11 billion and Indian exports just at $3.2 billion.

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The two countries hope to increase two-way trade to at least $40 billion by 2020, which would still be much lower than Australia-China’s $160 billion worth of annual trade.

Source : thehindubusinessline.com-Apr 07, 2016 HOME *****************

CSIDC identifies 30 ha land for textile park

The Chhattisgarh State Industrial Development Corporation (CSIDC) has identified a 30-hectare piece of land in Tilda in Raipur district for the development of a textile park, according to a newspaper report.

The proposed textile park at Tilda is aimed at providing one stop integrated facilities with manufacturing support, welfare and common infrastructure facilities to the prospective textile industries.

The textile park is envisaged to house world class eco system for textile industry, officials said.

The park will have testing laboratory, design centre, training centre, trade and display centre, conferencing and meeting facilities, warehouse/raw material depot, packaging unit, canteen and worker hostels and recreation centre.

The park which is estimated to cost Rs 110 crore, would have ginning and pressing, spinning, weaving, processing, and garmenting facilities.

The Chhattisgarh government has declared textiles as a priority sector in its industrial policy. The state produces tassar cocoons, yarn and fabrics.

Silk products from state are famous for its. The Central government has approved projects worth Rs 99 crore for upgradation of key industrial infrastructure in Chhattisgarh.

Source : fibre2fashion.com Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

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Being Human targets to open 30 more stores by FY17

Being Human, the clothing line with a heart, targets to open 30 more stores by the end of the financial year 2016-17, in addition to the existing 51 stores in 2016 opened in India and Nepal.

The brand has made a strong hold all over the country with its massive presence in past 4 years under its global licensing partner Mandhana Retail Ventures Ltd.

Amongst its other global expansion plans, Being Human will open its first exclusive store in Bordeaux, France in March 2016 and also launch at the Selfridges in London, Birmingham and Manchester as well as on their online channel with the brand's AW16 Collection in July 2016.

The brand is all set to launch its official e-commerce website for USA after having its e-commerce presence in Europe and United Kingdom.

Kunal Mehta, VP - Marketing and Business Development, Being Human Clothing said, “We are thrilled to have reached a milestone of 51 exclusive stores and overall 350 point of sales in just under 4 years of inception.

It is overwhelming to see such a great response not only from our customers but also our partners who have supported the brand to reach maximum pincodes in the country. We are looking forward to continue to share 100% love care share in newer markets.”

Manish Mandhana, Director, Mandhana Retail Ventures Ltd said, “We are proud to announce that we are available in more than 15 countries across 500 and more point-of-sales.

We are focused to enhancing Being Human's presence not only locally but also internationally by tapping new markets this year. Our aim is to make Being Human a global fashion brand that every individual can connect with”.

Source : fibre2fashion.com– Apr 06, 2016 HOME *****************

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Commerce Ministry to pitch for priority sector status for export credit

The Commerce Ministry will pitch for priority sector status for export credit so as to increase exports and raise its contribution to the country’s economic growth, Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has said.

Other thrust areas that were short-listed at the Board of Trade (BoT) meeting on Wednesday include removing regulatory provisions which affect smooth functioning of EXIM Bank and Export Credit Guarantee Corporation (ECGC), revival of Special Economic Zones (SEZs), giving priority to the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and promoting exports of organic products.

“Export credit should have been treated as priority sector credit day before yesterday and I give my commitment that I will take it up with the Finance Ministry,” Sitharaman told the Board of Trade meeting. Priority sector status obliges banks to lend a specified share to the sector. The suggestion was given by ICICI Bank Managing Director Chanda Kochchar who is a member of the BoT.

India’s exports have been contracting for fifteen straight months and are set to be around $260 billion this fiscal, much lower than last year’s $310 billion.

The Minister stressed the need to smoothen the functioning of the EXIM Bank and ECGC by bringing the regulatory environment to global standards. Talking to the media, Sitharaman said:

“I intend to call a meeting of representatives from EXIM Bank, ECGC and the Department of Economic Affairs to find out why some regulations are only applicable here and what to do about rules that are hampering performance.”

At the BoT meeting, the industry raised the pending issues of withdrawal of minimum alternate tax (MAT) and dividend distribution tax (DDT). The Minister said her ministry would work on improving the potential of these zones through other means as they are sitting on huge land banks.

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“We will meet with different line ministries, and both current and potential investors in SEZs. We will call up an SEZ specific focus meeting with departments, including economic affairs and CBEC, and industry experts, to see what steps can be taken,” Sitharaman said.

On the issue of promoting exports by MSMEs, the Minister said the government had kept the sector’s interest ‘on top’ and had also asked banks to treat their needs separate from that of large corporates.

The Commerce Ministry has also decided to hold interactions with Indian High Commissions and Embassies along with their commercial and economic wings to make them more vibrant and understand requirements of exporters, she said.

Industrialists who attended the BoT meeting included besides Kochhar, Biocon Managing Director Kiran Majumdar-Shaw, Dr Reddy’s Managing Director Satish Reddy and TVS Motor Company Chairman Venu Srinivasan.

Source : thehindubusinessline.com–Apr 07, 2016 HOME *****************

Nepali traders seek suspension of countervailing duty in India

Nepal Foreign Trade Association (NFTA) has requested for removal of countervailing duty imposed by the government of India on the import of Nepali goods. Even as Nepali exporters have long been lobbying for the same through the government, the government of India has not suspended the provision yet.

The government of India imposed the duty to safeguard concerned industries in India because the level of tariff imposed on import, which is also known as countervailing duty, will minimise the chances of imported goods being sold at cheaper rates as compared to the locally produced goods.

Normally, countervailing duty is levied on products that receive subsidy during manufacturing in the country of origin.

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The government of India has imposed such duty on readymade garment products to offset excise duty levied on their own products. As per traders, India has imposed additional countervailing duty on Nepali garments.

During an interaction with Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae today, NFTA officials said that as Nepal’s export volume to India, especially of garments, is quite low, it could not affect the production base in India.

“The safeguard measure taken by the Indian government has been hurting Nepal’s export to India,” said Ramesh Gupta, president of NFTA, adding, “We request the Indian government through the ambassador of India to Nepal to suspend such duties to promote India-Nepal trade.”

Recently, the government of India has also informed that is preparing to impose anti-dumping tariff on products and asked the exporters to present reasons as to why the Indian government should not impose this law on jute products within three months.

Since commerce secretary-level talks between Nepal and India are going to be held in the last week of May, traders have been lobbying with the government to raise the issue during the discussions.

In the interaction programme with the Indian envoy today, traders also sought facility for movement of bulk cargoes to the railheads of Jogbani (Biratnagar) and Nautanwa (Bhairahawa). Currently, bulk cargoes ferried via rail only arrives to Inland Clearance Depot (ICD) at Birgunj — the only rail-linked ICD of the country.

As per traders, if the Indian government allows movement of bulk cargoes to the railheads of Nepal border, it will help in reducing industrial production costs and shorten the delivery of goods because there is rapid industrialisation in Bhairahawa, western part of Nepal.

The country imports MS-billet, fertiliser and coal, among other items as bulk cargo.

NFTA has also sought the facility to import petroleum products via rail and has asked for Indian government’s support in establishing internationally accredited labs in the country.

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Similarly, NFTA has also requested that India accept the lab certificates issued by Nepali labs to export goods to India as Nepali traders have been facing lots of problems related with quarantine while exporting agricultural and food items to the southern neighbour.

Addressing the programme, Indian Envoy Rae expressed his commitment to forward the grievances of Nepali traders to higher authority and concerned ministries of India.

The Indian ambassador further said that the quarantine and other problems will be solved to large extent after the establishment of integrated posts (ICPs) and said that Indian government has been extending its support to Nepal for trade facilitation.

Source : thehimalayantimes.com–Apr 07, 2016 HOME *****************

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