Gujarat extends its textile policy by one year; AEPC hails move

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SME Times News Bureau | 11 Sep, 2017
The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), the apex body for apparel exporters in India, welcomes the extension of Gujarat's textile policy, which was set to expire on September 2017, will now remain in force till September 2018.

AEPC has welcomed the announcement of Gujarat government to extend its textile policy by one year, informed council in a press statement in New Delhi on Sunday.

The policy was set to expire on September 4, 2017 that will now remain in force till September 3, 2018.

As part of its consultations for the new textile policy for Gujarat, AEPC had asked for the availability of plug and play Infrastructure for apparel manufacturing in the form of readymade sheds for apparel factories in select locations either on long-term lease or rental basis.

The Council has also asked for incentives in the form of infrastructure and project cost assistance for setting up mega Apparel Park in the state and exemption of stamp duty for the developer of park and enterprises on purchase of land.

Commenting on the initiative, Ashok G Rajani, Chairman Apparel Export Promotion Council said, "We welcome the announcement of Gujarat government to extend its textile policy by a year. The textile policy of the state has been formulated with an objective to realize honorable prime minister's vision of "Farm to Fibre to Fabric to Fashion to Foreign" (5 Fs)".

To help Gujarat in realization of this objective, AEPC has already submitted a set of recommendations for implementation, to the state government. "We are hopeful that the state government will consider the all-encompassing draft recommendations of the council and include the same in the form of an apparel package/policy to make state an attractive destination for investments in garments and textile sector," he added.

In its recommendations, the council has also asked for interest subsidy to apparel units that have availed benefits under the TUFS with MSME units having the option to choose availing of the assistance of capital investment subsidy or assistance for interest subsidy as per the state scheme of assistance to MSMEs.

On the issue of power tariff, the council has made a request for power tariff subsidy to those enterprises which operates at an average 75 percent capacity in the trailing 12 months. It has also asked Gujarat government to provide assistance for construction of dormitories as per the industry requirements in select locations.

Concurrent with Government of India's vision of Skill India, the council has also requested for providing wage assistance for new employment and assistance for setting up training institutions for skill development. It has asked for support to centers running ISDS, PMKVY, DDUGKY and other skill development schemes.

AEPC is the official body of apparel exporters in India that provides invaluable assistance to Indian exporters as well as importers/ international buyers who choose India as their preferred sourcing destination for garments.