The textile industry circles have hailed the idea of establishment of federation of textile industry, as it is the need of the hour to meet the challenges. They said that the regional competitors have taken the lead in this respect, constituting effective joint forums for all stakeholders.
The Confederation of Indian Textile Industry (CITI) in India and the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) in Sri Lanka are two conspicuous models, strengthening the voice of textile industry in respective countries, they added. The founders of CITI also shifted headquarter of the Confederation from Mumbai to Delhi to get more benefits from the capital city. The proximity of CITI to the policymakers facilitated the industry stakeholders for effective lobbying in government corridors to protect common interests.
It may be noted that as many as 15 associations of the textile sector met on the invitation of Chairman Pakistan Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Exporters Association (PRGMEA), Ijaz A. Khokhar on August 15 to discuss the situation of the industry when the cotton prices are tumbling down world over. The participants agreed upon setting up of a committee, preparing a working paper on the idea of the federation of the textile industry.
Absence of a platform like this, equipped with inherent strength of a watchdog, has already debilitated the industry interests in the past. Mentioning the misery of bed linen exporters that faced 29 percent anti-dumping duty from the European Union in the recent past, they said the bed linen exporters failed to protect themselves due to the absence of any such arrangement.
The industry circles are of the view that the situation would have been different in the presence of joint forum like federation of textile industry. Interestingly, Aptma's positive node to the proposal of federation of textile industry is an encouraging sign for an effective and resourceful federation of the textile industry ahead, they said.