The Indian apparel sector’s participation in the Australia International Sourcing Fair (AISF) has risen six times over the years, A. Sakthivel, Chairman, Apparel Export Promotion Council, said.
Returning home after leading a 30-member delegation of garment exporters from India to the AISF, held in Melbourne between November 13 and 15, the AEPC chief said the garment exporters would continue to expand their reach and service to Australian buyers.
Exhibiting at the ‘Brand India’ pavilion in AISF gave Indian garment exporters an opportunity to place their product range in front of qualified visitors, including department stores, retail chains, importers, wholesalers, brand owners, designers and agents.
Provisional estimates show that the turnout at the fair was pretty good, he said.
He said Australia would be the focus market for the garment exporting community considering that India and Australia were in advanced negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement.
The fair also provided the Indian garment exporting community an opportunity to tap the Australian clothing market with the buyers there wanting to reduce their over-dependence on China.
China tops in the supply of apparel to Australia with a 75 per cent share, followed by Bangladesh at 6.4 per cent and India in the third position with just a 2 per cent market share.
“The potential is huge. The Australian apparel market is worth $5.61 billion, of which India’s exports in 2012 were around $111 million,” he said, adding “we have inherent strengths in design and raw material.”
The AEPC is planning to organise a series of international export promotion events in Japan, Brazil, Colombia, the US, Hong Kong, Israel, France, Spain, Australia, Chile, Uruguay and South Africa in 2013-14.
The council has inked an agreement with Russia, Spain, Israel and Mauritius as part of its international business outreach and trade promotion programme.