Nothing for garment exporters in govt sops: AEPC

The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC), the apex body of garment exporters, today said the apparel sector did not get any sops in the Rs 450-500-crore incentives announced for exporters yesterday.

"The government’s announcement to give incentives worth Rs 500 crore for exporters contains no measures for the garment export sector, which has seen significant downturn due to global economic recession," the AEPC said in a statement.

As per the AEPC estimates, apparel exports were at $6.17 billion in April to December 2009-10, down 7.07 per cent from $6.64 billion in the year ago period.

"We have been urging the government for 2 per cent of export values to the US and the EU in the form of duty scrips," AEPC Chairman Premal Udani said.

The government yesterday announced incentives for exporters, including expansion of the Focused Product Scheme (FPS) and Special FPS.

India's exports turned positive in November and December 2009 after contracting for 13 months in a row.

The apparel export industry provides employment to 3.5 million workers directly and another 3 million indirectly.