The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is the second largest market for Indian apparels after the US, as India exported apparels worth US $ 1.9 billion in 2019.
Notably, there’s still large potential to increase India’s exports.
And to tap this potential, first virtual B2B meeting was held between Indian apparel exporters and UAE-based leading buyers. Importantly, more such B2B meetings are being planned to be held in future.
The meeting, organised by Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi, saw participation of 30 apparel exporters from India and about 20 brands and buyers from UAE including top players like Lulu Group, Landmark Group, KM Trading and Apparel Group.
Contact and other relevant details of both exporters and buyers have been shared with all the participants by the Council.
Speaking at the meeting, Dr. A. Sakthivel, Chairman, AEPC, said that India is focusing on higher value and specialised products such as manmade apparels, medical textile and technical textiles.
“I invite all brands and buyers of UAE to increase sourcing from India. UAE investors can set up manufacturing facilities in India directly as 100 per cent FDI is allowed or through joint ventures,” he said.
Sandeep Kumar Bayyapu, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of India, Abu Dhabi, UAE, said “Our main aim is to increase exports from India to the UAE and there is tremendous potential for doing it. Dubai with its large trans-shipment port offers additional advantages as it caters to the needs of six other countries in the region.”
Sudhir Sekhri, Chairman (Export Promotion), AEPC urged the UAE-based buyers to come and partner with India in building R&D, design innovation and incubation centres in India. It also urged them to build textile design, forecasting and market research centres in India for global and Indian textiles.
