India’s Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) recently urged the government to lift the ban on export of personal protective equipment (PPE) kits as its production has reached 8 lakh units per day. AEPC chairman A Sakthivel said huge export opportunities exist for domestic players in the global PPE kit market, estimated to be more than $60 billion over the next five years.
The industry, which was hit hard after the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, had rejigged large production facilities to manufacture PPE by re-purposing production lines amidst a nationwide lockdown that disrupted material, labour and supply chains, he said in a statement.India's Apparel Export Promotion Council recently urged the government to lift the ban on export of personal protective equipment kits as its daily production has reached 8 lakh units. Its chairman A Sakthivel said huge export opportunities exist for domestic players in the global PPE kit market,estimated to be more than $60 billion over the next five years.#
Countries like Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan and others have lifted the ban on PPE exports and are receiving huge orders, he said.
"We are afraid to lose export markets to our competing countries. The production of PPE is more than sufficient to cater to the needs of the country and can be opened up for exports," Sakthivel said, adding that the United States and Europe are the largest potential buyers.
Pakistan has received $100 million worth export orders last week and that is likely to go up to $500 million, he claimed.
“India should consider the economic and political dividends that timely PPE exports will generate in the post-COVIDera," Sakthivel added.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)