A seminar aimed to encourage the manufacturers of Metiabruz, a huge apparel cluster on the southern fringe of Kolkata, to start exporting was organized in coordination with Bangla Readymade Garments Manufacturers & Traders Welfare Association. The colloquium was an effort to increase the awareness on exports and DISHA in Metiabruz, an area which is the largest producer of garments for the domestic market in India and markets its products through the Haat System. The area with an estimated annual turnover of more than Rs. 7,200 crores is known to have more than 5,000 small and medium units operating there.
In the seminar attended by more than 300 small and medium manufacturers, Chandrima Chatterjee, Director, Compliance at AEPC explained in detail the various aspects of DISHA and its relevance for the domestic industry, especially with the opening of FDI in retail and the emergence of global retailers and Anil Buchasia, EC member, exchanged his views and advices with the local association to form an export cell to coordinate with AEPC in matters relating to membership, DISHA, participation in fairs and other export-related problems.
Metiabruz, at present is the largest manufacturer of woven children garments, but faces problems such as space and clearances. Also, the DISHA programme was appreciated in the meet by the exporters for its efforts in the industry and a need for understanding and empowerment of the social compliance issues by the domestic manufacturers was voiced by many.
