CII sees high export potential in India’s womenswear industry

By

Isabelle Crossley

Published
Jul 22, 2019

The Confederation of Indian Industry has identified women’s apparel as one of 31 items with a high potential for export from India as it works to increase the country’s merchandise exports.

The CII’s recent study titled "Indian Exports: The Next Trajectory - Mapping Products and Destinations" has listed womenswear as a product category to focus on to increase Indian exports. Other products highlighted for their export potential in the study include furniture.

"A targeted export strategy that identifies and boosts the right products is imperative for achieving double-digit export growth,” said the CII’s director general Chandrajit Banerjee, Indo-Asian News Service reported. “An export strategy assumes greater significance given a rapidly changing global trade landscape, shifting of global value chains and new free trade agreements, including mega trade agreements." 

The CII report suggests developing export strategies at a state level to tailor the strategy to the specific region. The study also suggested that domestic production must be increased whilst targeted promotions are simultaneously rolled out overseas. This sentiment is echoed by the government’s “Make in India” drive which calls for an increase in domestic production, notably for textiles and garments, in order to reduce imports and increase exports.