The following is a round-up of apparel and footwear news from the world’s local media.

  • A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between the International Cotton Researchers Association (ICRA) under the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC), and the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) for the exchange of research information between scientists from Pakistan and other nations. Dr. Michel FOK, ICRA chair, visited cotton trials at research institutes, research labs, two agricultural universities of Multan. He visited cotton fields of two progressive farmers in the surroundings of Multan, and gave two lectures about the concept of climate smart agriculture and the Chinese experience in using Bt-cotton. ICRA
  • Iran exported about US$70m worth of apparel last year (March 2016-17) to mainly customers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Central Asian countries, according to the Iran Textile Exporters and Manufacturers Association. Plans are underway to export garments to Germany and Italy. The Iranian apparel market is worth close to $12bn. FINANCIAL TRIBUNE

  • Several of Indonesia’s largest textile firms have started pushing up production in speciality textiles or fabrics for special purposes, such as footwear, amid the country’s dependence on their import. Publicly listed PT Asia Pacific Fibers is one such company. But to keep the investment going and be able to fulfill national demand, the Indonesian Association of Synthetic Fiber Producers says the government must lower gas prices, electricity tariffs and labour costs. JAKARTA POST

  • The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has shut down 23 textile dyeing and bleaching units in Tiripur until further notice after villagers complained coloured water was flowing into a river from a common effluent treatment plant. The effluents were also flowing into an irrigation tank in Manickapuram. While preliminary investigations found the discharge was due to damage to a pipeline, a resident said the discharge was made at night. Production from the units has been halted pending further investigation. TIMES OF INDIA

just-style has not checked these stories so cannot guarantee their accuracy.