Global news roundup

The following is a round-up of apparel and footwear news from the world’s local media. just-style has not checked these stories so cannot guarantee their accuracy.

• Israel hopes to more than triple its trade with India in the next two years as the countries are expected to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) by the end of next year. Growth in trade is seen in a number of industries, including textiles. The two coutries had hoped to complete the pact in 2012-2013, since this marks the 20th year of diplomatic relations between India and Israel. HINDUSTAN TIMES

• The Pakistan Hosiery Manufacturers Association (PHMA) has expressed its concern at the state’s failure to implement a long-term textile policy announced in 2009. The initiatives featured in the policy could have helped the sector become more competitive and increase exports, the group says. Instead, the entire textile sector is now on its knees. THE INTERNATIONAL NEWS

• An Indian textile group is urging the governments of Pakistan and India to speed up the normalisation of trade between the two countries. The chairman of the Synthetic & Rayon Textiles Export Promotion Council (SRTEPC) stressed the need for joint ventures between the two countries due to their geographical proximity and regional accumulation as well as similar business trends in textiles. The Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry, however, said it has yet to exploit the potential benefits of regional trade. THE NATION

• Some 200 textile workers in Iran have protested in front of the country’s parliament as they claim they have not been paid for the last 27 months and the government has not fulfilled its promises on handling the situation. A similar protest took place earlier this month. The unnamed plant is said to be run by Turkish businessmen, who took over its management in 2009. TREND

• The All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) has said the country’s textile industry will lose US$3bn in exports if gas shortages continue for another three months. The association says it has strongly protested against the shortages, adding that the textile sector will not be able to function if gas continues to be suspended for five days a week. THE NATION

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