Indian International Garment Fair (IIGF), biggest sourcing event for Indian apparel exporters, which has been taking place in New Delhi from last three decades may now shift its upcoming July edition to Gandhinagar (Gujarat). The 59th edition is scheduled to take place from 17-19 July.
Ministry of Textiles (MoT), Government of India is organizing a mega event – Textile India Conclave and Exhibition in Gandhinagar from June 30 to July 2, and wishes that IIGF should also be a part of it. In a recent meeting, senior officials of MoT instructed Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and other EPCs of the textile industry to make sure maximum participation of exporters in the Conclave. AEPC, a leading apparel council and main organizer of IIGF, has been given a target of bringing 250 exporters to Gandhinagar. AEPC officials however are of the view that organizing IIGF in Gujarat is not feasible as small- and medium-level exporters (or even similar buyers), which are in fact the backbone of the fair, will find it hard to come to Gandhinagar. All the buying agents, which are based in Delhi-NCR, will not go there at any cost.
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Sources told exclusively Apparel Resources: MoT officials were hard on AEPC’s logic that majority of exporters as well as buyers will not come to Gandhinagar. It is worth mentioning here that out of almost 300 exporters of July edition of IIGF, more than 250 comes from Delhi-NCR and Jaipur only.
Now AEPC has come up with a solution… It wants to organize IIGF in New Delhi as usual and suggests to bring big exporters and buyers to Gandinagar for the Conclave. Vijay Mathur, Deputy Secretary General, AEPC told Apparel Resources, “We have pitched in to keep IIGF in Delhi as it is an established brand here and a key fair for medium-level buyers. While in Gandhinagar, we want to bring top or big exporters as this Conclave is also taking place on a large scale. Similarly, top-level buyers will also come there as they will get to meet big exporters. Even medium-level exporters are also welcome there.” He also added that AEPC has put forward both the options to MoT and things will be clearer within next seven days.
Additionally, on being asked: “Why double expenses of such exporters who want to tap their regular buyers of IIGF as well as claimed big buyers in Gandinagar as well?” Mathur said, “Such thinking will be narrow minded.” He also cleared that AEPC will follow whatever MoT wants.
