Garment Buyers & Sellers Meet in Kolkata - great success

Shri Madan Mitra, Hon’ble Minister of State for Sports and Transport (Independent Charge), Government of West Bengal inaugurated the 39th Garment Buyers and Sellers Meet.

Inaugurating the Meet, the Minister stated that the State Government has been considering the feasibility converting unutilized tram depots to Multiplex where garment dealers will also be accommodated which will help increased channels for marketing readymade garments.

While visiting the Stalls at the Meet the Hon’ble Minister appreciated the designs of garments of all categories. He encouraged the participants by saying that quality and designs of the garment manufactured by the local garment manufacturers are of international standard. He suggested the participants to make endeavour for exporting readymade garments to overseas markets.

West Bengal Garment Manufacturers and Dealers Association is the pioneer in the country in organising Garment Buyers and Sellers Meet. Started early in 1977, this Meet is 39th in its series. 45 Garment Units are participating at this Meet. Beside local manufacturers, participants from Delhi, Punjab, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad have come forward and have participated in this Meet. Thus, it is an all-India Garment Buyers and Sellers Meet. This Meet is trendy and a fascinating collection of newly designed readymade garments.

2000 garment retailers visited the Meet and placed bulk orders at this Meet keeping demands during Festive Season in view.  Approximately Rs. 100 crores of business has been generated at the Meet.

Incidentally, West Bengal has the largest concentration of small readymade garment units in the country. The industry has not only cater to the requirements of Eastern and North Eastern States but also serves other regions. The industry in the State provides employment to lakhs of people. At present, there are about 5000 units of different scales in different parts of Kolkata, Howrah, Hooghly, North and South 24-Parganas.

The industry is saddled with constraints, among others, dearth of finance, lack of modernization, excise levy at the highest rate, lack of appropriate infrastructure and entry of readymade garments from neighbouring countries.