Virender Uppal, Chairman of Richa Global Export has completed his 2-year tenure (2014-2015) as the Chairman of AEPC (Apparel Export Promotion Council), the official body of apparel exporters in India. It was his second inning as AEPC Chairman.
His earlier tenure was between 2002 and 2003. His second tenure will be remembered for the intense tussles with Apparel House Exporters Association (AHEA) and SG, AEPC Puneet Kumar, as well as issues related to ATDC. Team Apparel Resources caught up with him for his take on his tenure.
“I tried to do the best possible during my tenure and got the interest subvention scheme reintroduced. I was after it from the beginning. Similarly, we got better drawback rates and a lot of classifications have gone, which were in fact a trouble for exporters. Even in the AEPC, I streamlined the system as there were mixed staff for AEPC and ATDC. If you see the balance sheet of AEPC, we had lot of excess expenditures, like those on some export promotion activities which were not bringing results, I stopped them with the help of staff and industry, so I am very satisfied,” he told Apparel Resources.
Reacting to questions on the infamous ‘Letter war’ between the SG (Secretary General) and the AEPC, and its impact on the AEPC working and the motivation level of AEPC staff, he said, “I don’t want to comment on this, it is a part of life …”
He was, however, vocal on what he couldn’t achieve or wished to do. “There are few things that I would have liked to see to the end and as an Executive Member, I will continue to pursue them, one is more concession on imported fabrics; things like these are still to be followed and we will rigorously follow it,” he averred.
On the issue of less involvement of industry or new faces in AEPC, he said, “Things are quite democratic. Nobody is stopping anybody from coming forward to contest election. People must be satisfied with the existing representatives. That is why they are winning elections. People should remember that it takes a lot of time and energy to work for the industry through the AEPC.”
Also Read – AR Exclusive: AEPC Elections: Virender Uppal and Team win; Rajiv Kapoor triumphs
