Union textiles minister Dayanidhi Maran is leading the first -ever joint textile trade delegation to Japan on July 20, 2009, to identify new markets for Indian textiles and clothing and to attract foreign direct investments for the modernisation of the textile industry.
The 17-member team has the representatives of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), The Cotton Textiles Export Promotion Council (TEXPROCIL), the Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Promotion Council (SRTEPC), Knitwear Technology Mission and leading manufacturers and exporters from the Coimbatore and Tirupur textile and knitwear clusters.
Maran will inaugurate the Indian Pavilion at the Japan International Fashion Fair( JIFF), known as Mega Apparel & Textile Show, in Tokyo on July 22, 2009. In the three-day fair, 44 Indian textiles and clothing units will exhibit their products. The AEPC, along with SRTEPC and TEXPROCIL, is also participating in the fair.
The textiles ministry has been promoting exports to South East Asia under the Union government?s ?Look East Policy?, to diversify the textiles and clothing exports and reduce dependence on the US and EU and to attract of foreign direct investment (FDI). Japan is one of the biggest consumers of textiles and clothing, but India has very negligible market share of 1.12 % in the Japanese import basket, industry sources said. According to an official release, Maran will address a business meeting hosted by Japan-India Business Cooperation Committee and will use this platform to solicit investment in Indian textiles sector.