Japan will be soon entering into an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) with India which the apparel exporters from India could utilise to increase their market share in our country, according to Japan Textiles Importers Association chief researcher Yoshiaki Kamiyama. “At present, Indian garment imports in our country is miniscule constituting just 0.8l per cent of the total imports of $24,500 million registered in 2009,” he said.
Mr. Kamiyama was speaking to ‘The Hindu' on the sidelines of a forecast seminar on ‘Fashion Trends in Japan' organsied by the Apparel Export Promotion Council here on Friday.
With geographical proximity and speedy execution of orders, China remains the highest supplier of garments to Japan.
“About 80 per cent of garments imported by us are now coming from China,” he said. On the EPA, he said that presently, Japan had such an agreement with only Switzerland and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries which facilitates import of goods into our country without attracting any duty.
The AEPC Senior Director, D.G. Reddy, said that the Council would participate in a textile show planned in Tokyo during July to help the Indian apparel exporters enter into the niche markets there.
“On the basis of recommendations of Ministry of Textiles, the Ministry of Commerce has approved funding for the trip under Market Access Initiative scheme,” he added.
