R Prem Chander
Managing Director Amarjothi Spinning Mills
Most Tiruppur enterpreneurs will require financial assistance
Amarjothi Spinning Mills is one of the largest manufacturers of quality melange yarn in India. R Prem Chander discusses the prospects and possibilities of Tiruppur being a global knitwear hub, and provides an overview of the latest developments in the company.
Can Tiruppur really be the next China in terms of knitwear production? What steps need to be taken to compete with countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam?
Of course, Tiruppur can take over China's fame in the near future. Connectivity from Tiruppur is easier and cheaper than from China; it also holds a distinct price advantage over China. India should grab the opportunity with both hands, and the government should sign, if not an FTA, at least special agreements with countries (where we export). Meanwhile, cost of production has also gone up. So, it would be an opportunity to boost Tiruppur's market. Tiruppur is known for its quality, which we need to capitalise on, and strengthen it too so as to compete with countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam.
How will the five-year financial roadmap to be developed by NABARD and other financial institutes boost the knitwear units in Tiruppur? What are your expectations from the plan?
Most of the entrepreneurs in Tiruppur will require financial assistance as the time gap between fund flows depend largely on the export market. Hence, more loans with subsidised interest and easy repayment will help them to produce volumes. Moreover, NABARD should fund more R&D as technologies are advancing rapidly, and Tiruppur manufacturers should be able to grab such opportunities. For instance, augmented reality t-shirts are emerging as new trend in the market. Also, assistance to set up training centres will boost the market with quality producers.
What is the annual production capacity of melange yarns at Amarjothi? What percentage of this is for export?
An average of 12,000 tonnes and approximately 30 per cent of the same is for export.
The demand for which kinds of melange yarns (blended, non-blended, unique) is high in the domestic and foreign markets?
Blended, where the demand is for cotton/viscose, cotton/polyester, cotton/polyester/viscose and cotton/modal. Also for fancy yarn, neppy melange, slub yarn, grindle yarn and slub with neppy yarn.
The demand for which melange yarns is emerging in international markets? Do you plan to explore any new markets?
The demand for fancy yarn, grindle yarn, and neppy melange is emerging in international markets. We plan to explore markets in Cambodia, Vietnam and Ethiopia.
What do you do to keep the yarn processing activities at Amarjothi sustainable?
We are eco-friendly, ISO accredited and GOTS approved.
What are the latest R&D innovations of your company?
Slub with neppy yarn and grindle with rowing grindle and many more such innovations are in the pipeline.
What are the top five measures that new textiles minister Smriti Irani must take in order to support Tiruppur's knitwear manufacturers?
The top five measures that need to be taken to support knitwear manufacturers in Tiruppur: uplifting dying units; enhancing facilities and reforms for labour; increasing export incentives; subsidised loans with easy repayments; more exposure for our products.
Published on: 01/11/2016
DISCLAIMER: All views and opinions expressed in this column are solely of the interviewee, and they do not reflect in any way the opinion of Fibre2Fashion.com.
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