'More focus, policy changes can double garment export'

India can easily double its garment export volume immediately and in the long run, with more focus and fundamental policy changes, according to Texpreneurs Forum, a city-based textile industry body.
In large-volume export segment, garments are the second best-performing sector after pharma, averaging 10 per cent growth over the last few months, Texpreneurs Forum Secretary Prabhu Dhamodaran told PTI.
Referring to export data on garment released recently, he said the industry "should not be content" with the current growth rate since China's export volume in textile clothing stood at around Rs 1,70,000 crore.
But because of rising wages and strict control on pollution, China may lose some ground in coming years, he predicted.

So, the two top most priorities for the industry are rationalisation of duty structure in Man Made Fibre (MMF) and specific support for performing export clusters in terms of infrastructure, Prabhu said.
With rationalisation of duty structure in MMF, India can avoid rising imports of yarn and fabrics in MMF from various countries, which will help generate domestic employment, he added.