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| Wednesday, 9 July 2003 |
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Lanka, India should work together to counter challenges of post 2005 by Channa Kasturisinghe Sri Lanka and India should work together to counter the phasing out of the Multi Fibre Agreement in 2005, said Sanjay S Lalbhai, the visiting Managing Director of Arvind Mills Ltd., manufacturers of a leading textile brand in India. He told the Daily News that Sri Lanka which has a world class garment manufacturing industry could make use of India's large fabric base to face the future challenges from the rest of the garment manufacturing countries including China, Pakistan, Turkey and Indonesia. The Arvind Mills of the Lalbhai Group with a turnover of US$ 550 million is the first Indian textile mill in India to produce and export Indigo dyed blue denim to international standards. The Lalbhai Group, founded in 1908 has grown to become one of India's most diversified business houses, with a significant presence in the textiles, ready-to-wear, agro-chemicals and telecom industries. The Group which has tied-up with world's leading companies is one of the top ten manufacturers of Denim in the world. The company on its way to becoming global textile conglomerate is planning to promote trade ties with Sri Lanka, which has a one billion US dollar fabric import market. Strengthing trade ties with Company's of this caliber would help Sri Lanka to face the increasing competition from low cost producing countries and countries which are eligible for special trade concessions. Lalbhai visited a few garment factories in Sri Lanka yesterday and held discussions with leading garment exporters. "My purpose is to meet all the manufacturers here and discuss ways and means of making this concept a reality. Sri Lanka, with its high class manufacturing capabilities and with efficient human resource has the potential of producing textiles of international standard. By forming strategic alliances with the Indian fabric manufactures , Sri Lankan manufactures will be able to cater to the US and European markets. It is the best way of facing the challenges especially from countries such as China," Lalbhai said. He said Sri Lanka's major manufactures are reputed for producing high quality products catering to the up market through design, price and on- time delivery. He said that the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries would also help apparel manufactures of Sri Lanka to access Indian market and vice versa. Lalbhai also attended a meeting organised by the Joint Apparel Association Forum and the Sri Lanka Export Development at Mast Lanka Ltd., Colombo yesterday. |
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