Narendra Kumar Goenka, founder and managing director of Texport Industries Pvt. Ltd., today took charge as the new chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC). With an annual export turnover of $120 million, Texport Industries is one of the largest apparel manufacturer-exporters in India. Goenka succeeds Dr. A Sakthivel as AEPC chairman.
Goenka has been associated with AEPC for more than two decades. His vision for a larger role for Indian apparels on the world stage brought him close to supporting the Council.
He was the vice chairman of the apex body of Indian apparel exporters before taking charge as chairman, AEPC. He has assured of all efforts to bring positive change in the sector, find new markets for Indian apparels and boost growth in exports.
Assuming charge of the Council at its Executive Committee meeting held today, Goenka said, “We are witnessing a robust growth in apparel exports. Going by the export orders in hand, this positive trend will further accelerate in the last quarter.
“Apparel exports were 22 per cent up at $1.46 billion in December 2021 from $1.20 billion in December 2020. The same in the first nine months of this fiscal stood at $11.13 billion, 35 per cent more than $8.22 billion in April-December 2020. The trend is getting stronger.”
Goenka said that this major turnaround in apparel exports was possible due to the highly efficient management by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian apparel exporters.
Despite several disruptions in the global supply chain and demand, the Indian apparel industry demonstrated its resilience by gradually inching back to the pre-pandemic growth path. “By the end of this financial year, we will be looking at new targets,” he said.
Goenka appreciated the proactive approach, leadership and constant support extended to the apparel industry by Minister for Textiles, Industry and Commerce Piyush Goyal and Minister of Finance Nirmala Sitharaman.
“I am thankful to the government for having taken several initiatives to strengthen the apparel sector in the last two years. The government has taken measures which include RoSCTL scheme, ECLGS scheme, financial restructuring packages for MSMEs, and investment enhancement schemes like PLI, National Technical Textile Mission (NTTM), and Pradhan Mantri Mega Integrated Textile Region & Apparel Park (PM-MITRA).
“With global demand picking up gradually and industry reporting handsome orders in hand, apparel exports are likely to pick up in 2022. We need to strongly focus on efforts for promoting Brand India taking suitable measures to ensure sustainability and other social compliances,” Goenka said.
He said that AEPC has been constantly looking forward to making efforts towards enhancing exports in both traditional and emerging export markets. “India has been facing duty disadvantages against competitors like Bangladesh, Cambodia, Turkey, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in major overseas destinations. Fast-tracked FTAs can give India a level playing field in these markets,” he added.
Goenka assured the member-exporters of the Council that he will be in regular consultation with them while formulating plans and working in coordination with the government for the betterment of the apparel industry and apparel exporters.
