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New Delhi, July 14 The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) is hosting the 41st India International Garment Fair here from July 16 to 19 in association with other garment associations, offering a bouquet of products for all types of buyers in a price range of $2 to $50.

Addressing a news conference here to announce the fair, the AEPC Chairman, Mr Rakesh Vaid, said one of the highlights of the fair is that it is being organised in Apparel House — the AEPC headquarters in Gurgaon, Haryana — for the first time. Apparel House had been developed with international-class infrastructure to create a one-stop solution for the buyer and is already home to more than 200 permanent showrooms.

For the first time, Indian retailers like Lifestyle, Shoppers Stop, Trent Ltd, Globus Stores, Future Group, Reliance Retail Ltd, and Vishal Retail Ltd have also been invited to the fair, indicating the importance being attached to the growing domestic market, he said.

The show is expected to be attended by 3,000 visitors including buying houses, department stores, designers, distributors, garment manufacturers, importers, retailers and wholesalers. The last season of the fair registered 517 buyers from 62 countries who interacted with 280 participants. This time around, 300 participants have registered.

Among the important buying houses expected are Impulse, Next, Colveta, Espirit, Walmart, Carrefour H&M and Li Fung. Some of the major buyers expected are Court Casuals, DGM Fashions and Positive Australia Fashion from Australia; Stepgrade Ltd, Goria Ltd, and Leaflace and, Bruna Fashion Ltd from UK; HI Class Emporium Ltd from Thailand; Aita, HHG, Alca Design, Duiker S.L. from Spain; Entre Ciel et Mer, Distriworld, Flo Mazet and Toshie lo rue from France.

On garment exports, he said apparel exports in 2007-08 were around $9,400 million as against $8,901 million in 2006-07, a growth of 5.6 per cent, mainly due to the growth in exports to the European Union, which have grown by 11 per cent. In the US market, India’s exports stagnated in 2007-08. In April 2008, there were signs of recovery. However, in May again India’s exports have recorded a decline of about 1.79 per cent, he said.

Although this is better than the overall imports of US, which have declined by 3.84 per cent during this period, as also China’s growth rate, which has plunged to (-)5.86 per cent, there is little solace in the fact that Bangladesh has recorded a growth of 6.29% during this period, overtaking India in the US market. Important export items of India to the US, like knit and woven shirts for men and women, cotton trousers, cotton dresses, cotton undergarments and baby garments all registered a negative growth in May 2008.

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