With vast datasets available, the challenge remains to integrate and share them, ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) Secretary Saurabh Garg said on March 20, 2025. "The biggest challenge remains on how to integrate administrative, alternate and survey data in a statistically robust manner... and how we can ensure robust conclusions," he said. Speaking at a session on leveraging non-conventional data sources for official statistics, Garg said the ministry has set out the national metadata standards to establish clear definitions for data collection and a quality assessment framework for various ministries. "We have issued a set of common identifiers that can be used by different ministries/departments and will help capture GST and road toll data to get a sense of GDP."
Source: The Economic Times
India's services sector is experiencing robust growth, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal urging the sector to aim for USD 450 billion in exports by next fiscal year, surpassing merchandise exports. The goods trade is facing headwinds in the current global situation, he added. The services sector should be targeting USD 450 billion in exports in 2025-26 and about USD 385-390 billion this fiscal, he said while addressing the Inaugural Session of Nasscom Global Confluence 2025.
Source: The Economic Times
Taiwan can aid India in reducing its reliance on Chinese electronic components through a free trade pact, suggests deputy national security adviser Hsu Szu-Chien. A trade deal would encourage Taiwanese investment in India's high-tech sectors, leveraging Taiwan’s technology and India's workforce. This partnership aims to address India's trade deficit with China and boost economic cooperation. Taiwan can help India reduce its import of electronic components from China and the best way to bolster the economic engagement including in the semiconductor sector would be to seal a free trade pact, Taiwanese deputy national security adviser Hsu SzuChien said on March 20, 2025.
Source: The Economic Times
India has initiated an antidumping investigation on flexible slabstock polyol (FSP) imported from China and Thailand, according to a notification issued by the Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR). FSP is used for manufacturing upholstery, mattresses, pillows, bolsters, transport seating and packaging. The probe was initiated after Manali Petrochemicals Limited, the sole producer of FSP in India, filed an application alleging that cheap imports are hurting domestic
Source: The Economic Times
To finalise the shape of the proposed bilateral-trade agreement (BTA), a team of United States (US) officials, headed by Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, will come to New Delhi next week to hold discussions with their counterparts here. Both sides are aiming to finalise the first tranche of a “mutually beneficial” deal by the fall of 2025.
The discussions are set to take place a week ahead of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US becoming effective on April 2.
India has shared a “non-paper” or a non-binding informal discussion paper with the US to convey New Delhi’s point of view and proposals regarding the talks.
Source: The Business Standard
The State government plans to set up a textile park under public private partnership at Guledagudda in Bagalkot district.
Work has already begun on the initiative. The State government has transferred 15 acres of land in Muradi village to the Deputy Director of Handloom and Textile Department, Bagalkot. The tendering process for the appointment of a transaction adviser for the establishment of the park is in progress, Minister Shivanand Patil said in response to a question by member Keshav Prasad in the Legislative Council recently.
Source: The Hindu
The Indian Textile Accessories and Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (ITAMMA) will conduct the 28th edition of the B2B Buyers-Sellers Meet and Industry Experts Networking Meeting at Parimalam Mahal here on March 22, 2025.
Addressing the media on March 20, 2025, organising committee members Sundarraj and Balaji said the meet would be inaugurated by V.S. Palaniswamy, Chairman of the Pallava Group, in the presence of Ramesh Natrajan, Executive Director of AGT Mills and president of The Indian Manmade Yarn Manufacturers Association. Over 600 participants from the Erode region, including Namakkal, Karur, and Salem districts, are expected to attend the meet.
Source: The Hindu
Indonesia recently stressed the need for concluding soon the Indonesia-European Union Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IEU-CEPA) to protect the market for its domestic textile industry amid global geopolitical uncertainties. The country, which has conducted 19 rounds of talks over the past nine years related to the proposed agreement, aims at concluding the negotiations in the first half this year.
In general, the agreement has three main pillars: market access for trade in goods and services, investment and public procurement, and harmonisation of trade regulations, as well as cooperation and capacity building.
Source: Fibre2fashion
Chinese textile company Sunrise Group will invest 2.3 billion dirhams ($240 million) to build two textile plants in Morocco, the Moroccan government said on March 20, 2025, after signing the deal. The plants in Fez and Skhirate, near Rabat, will be Sunrise's first manufacturing sites in Morocco. They will produce yarn, fabrics and clothing products to help Moroccan manufacturers reduce delays and logistical costs and meet international orders without intermediaries, the prime minister's office said in a statement.
Source: ET Manufacturing
New York – Union Fabrics, a leading textile manufacturer from Pakistan, is spotlighting its diverse capabilities in home textile development as it looks to build out business in North America.
With expertise spanning knitting, weaving, cut & sew and waterproofing, the company is positioning itself to fill a growing void in the market for high-quality textile solutions outside of China and India.
Over the past three decades Union Fabrics has evolved into a vertically integrated resource, offering an extensive range of fabrics and finished goods for bedding manufacturers, institutional suppliers and mattress producers. Its production facilities in Karachi house state-of-the-art machinery to provide efficiency across the company’s diverse product lines.
Source: Home Textiles
London has the chance to lead the world in circular fashion and textiles, and UKFT is part of the Advisory Committee helping shape the London Textiles Action Plan. Building on our work via the Circular Fashion Innovation Network (CFIN) and ACT UK, we’ll be supporting Greater London Authority, London Councils and ReLondon to deliver against the ambitions it sets out. This groundbreaking initiative aims to transform London’s fashion industry into a zero-waste, low-carbon circular economy.
Source: UKFT
