Garment exports up 15% in Sept

India's apparel exports grew about 15% to $1.1 billion in September this year on the back of a rise in demand in American and emerging markets like Latin America, garment exporters' body AEPC said today.

"The garment demand is growing as buyers are placing orders ahead of the Christmas season. Also, some revival in the US along with emerging markets has contributed to the exports growth in September," Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) Chairman A Sakthivel said.

The council had organised fairs last month in New York and Spain and received positive signals on revival in in USA and EU, he added.

The US and Europe together account for about 60% of the country's total apparel shipments.

During April-September 2013, garment exports grew 13% at over $6.5 billion.

The AEPC said the garment industry is expected to achieve the $17 billion target for the current fiscal as the outbound shipments have been growing at a healthy rate.

In 2012-13, apparel exports declined by 6% to $12.92 billion.

AEPC said it would set up sector skill council for apparel, made-ups, home furnishing, including handloom.

In the area of skill development, it has assessed a total number of 5,800 candidates in the 2013-14 (up to September 2013) under a skill development initiative scheme.