Colombo, July 29 (newsin.asia): The India International Textiles Expo (IITExpo) -Exhibition cum Buyer Seller Meet- was inaugurated at Hotel Galadari here on Monday. The three-day event is organized by the Powerloom Development & Export Promotion Council (PDEXCIL) of India, with the support of Ministry of Textiles & Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Government of India.
The Chief Guest at the inauguration ceremony was Anoma Gamage, Deputy Minister of Petroleum Resources Development of Sri Lanka. Sharad Amalean, Chairman, Joint Apparel Association Forum, Rehan Lakhany, Chairman, Sri Lanka Apparel Export Association, Suja K. Menon, Head of Economic & Commercial Wing, High Commission of India, and Sunil Satgonda Patil, Chairman, PDEXCIL were also present.
In her address Minister Gamage said that the textile industry is an important pillar of the Sri Lankan economy, given its contribution to the GDP, exports and forex earning, employment generation etc. She added that the textile sector also plays an important role in achieving the goals envisaged by the Government of Sri Lanka in its Vision 2025. She underlined the strong bilateral ties between India and Sri Lanka, and spoke of the potential to further strengthen collaboration in the textile sector. She recalled her own personal connection with the textile industry for almost 25 years.
Suja K. Menon of Head of the Economic Wing at the Indian High Commission spoke about the synergy that exists between India and Sri Lanka in the textile and apparel sector, given the strength of India in the areas of raw materials and manufacturing. Sri Lanka, she said, is making a mark in certain niche categories. She pointed out that several Sri Lankan companies are investing in India in the textile sector, contributing to the growth of the Indian economy.
PDEXCIL has had an association with Sri Lanka since 1998. There also exists an MOU between PDEXCIL and the Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA), which was signed in Gujarat in June 2017.
At the event, about 30 exhibitors from various textile clusters of India are displaying a variety of fabrics, made-ups, home textiles, cotton and blended yarn etc. The event concludes on July 31 July.
(The featured image at the top shows Sri Lankan Minister Anoma Gamage going round the textile exhibition accompanied by Suja Menon, Head, Economic Division at the Indian High Commission)
