New AEPC chairman Narendra Goenka sees apparel exports gaining further momentum in 2022

“We are witnessing a robust growth in apparel exports. Going by the export orders in hand, this positive trend will further accelerate in the last quarter,”  Goenka, who took over charge as the new chairman of APEC from A Sakthivel at the council’s executive committee meeting on Monday, said.

“Apparel exports were 22% up at $1.46 billion in December 2021 from $1.20 billion in December 2020. The same in the first nine months of this fiscal stood at $11.13 billion, 35% more than $8.22 billion in April-December 2020. The trend is getting stronger,” he further said.

Goenka said that this major turnaround in apparel exports was possible due to the highly efficient management by the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the entrepreneurial spirit of the Indian apparel exporters. Despite several disruptions in the global supply chain and demand, the Indian apparel industry demonstrated its resilience by gradually inching back to the pre pandemic growth path. By the end of this financial year, we will be looking at new targets, he said.

“With global demand picking up gradually and industry reporting handsome orders in hand, apparel exports are likely to pick up in 2022. We need to strongly focus on efforts for promoting Brand India taking suitable measures to ensure sustainability and other social compliances,” he added.

Goenka has been associated with the council for more than two decades. He was the vice chairman of the apex body of Indian apparel exporters before taking charge as chairman, AEPC.

AEPC, the official body of apparel exporters in India, under the aegis of the ministry of textiles, provides invaluable assistance to Indian exporters as well as importers/international buyers.