New Delhi, July 20 (KNN) The Minister of Textiles, Kavuru Sambasiva Rao has assured increased Marketing Development Assistance (MDA) and Market Access Initiatives (MAI) if needed for exporters of garments and apparels during an event.  

“The minister emphasized on the skill development and training of the workers of garments and apparel sector. He also advocated for the flexibility in labour laws so as to optimize the output and assured of increasing the MDA and MAI assistance if needed,” said a press release by Apparel Exports Promotion Council (AEPC) here.

The Chairman of AEPC, A Sakthivel demanded, enlargement of the garment export basket by manufacturing garments (knitted and woven) from fabrics which are not widely available in India – issuance of duty credit scrip (offsetting custom duties) on import of specialty fabrics at the rate of 5 per cent in 2012-13 and during the entire 12th Five Year Plan.  

The MDA scheme is under operation through the Department of Commerce to assist-exporters for export promotion activities abroad, councils to undertake export expansion activities for their products, approved organizations or trade bodies in undertaking exclusive non-recurring innovative activities connected with export promotion efforts for their members etc.

Whereas, the MAI is an export promotion scheme envisaged to act as a catalyst to promote India’s export on a sustained basis. The scheme is formulated on product-country approach to evolve specific market and specific goods through market survey.

Further, assistance would be provided to trade promotion organizations for enhancement of export through accessing new markets or through increasing the share in the existing markets.

Meanwhile, the 51st India International Garment Fair which was a three day event, served as a platform for a large number of exhibitors and buyers from across the globe to interact under one roof.  (GUNJ/KNN)