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‘India must develop one of its cities into an international trade platform’

Interstoff Asia has been serving the international textile community since 1987 and has become a significant marketing and sourcing platform for fabric manufacturers and buyers. As Interstoff Asia Spring gets set to open this week, Ms Katy Lam, general manager, Messe Frankfurt (HK), in an exclusive interview with Steena Joy, describes how the 2003 edition will be different, especially for India.

Apparel fabrics from India will be one of the highlights at this year’s Interstoff Asia Spring. How can Indian exporters benefit from this?

This is a unique opportunity for Indian companies to come together to show over 9,000 international trade buyers what India has to offer, and to demonstrate why they should consider buying textiles from India. In the lead up to the elimination of trade quotas in 2005 it is more important than ever for countries to promote their products to international buyers. By highlighting Indian apparel fabrics at Interstoff Asia Spring we want to show global buyers that India has a strong and vibrant textile industry that can supply good quality fabrics at acceptable prices.

In the past few years there has been significant reform in India’s textile industry, resulting in increased efficiency, productivity and quality. For apparel fabric buyers and sourcers, this means quality products at competitive prices. As well as the products displayed at the exhibitors’ booths, we will also have a central display of fabric swatches to show the product variety and unique characteristics of Indian fabrics. Also the seminar programme will feature sessions by Indian industry experts to tell our visitors how the country’s textile industry is handling recent reforms, and the benefits that will be passed on to overseas trading partners. Also, I think that Indian companies can benefit from a better understanding of the role of Asia and Hong Kong in the international market, which they can do at Interstoff Asia.

Can you comment on India’s participation at the previous Interstoff Asia Spring? How does it compare to this year’s response?

There were 7 Indian exhibitors at Interstoff Asia Spring 2002, and we expect around 9 or 10 this year, which is similar to the participation in previous shows. I am a bit disappointed by the lack of response from the Indian textile manufacturers, as we will have a special focus on India this spring.

How does India compare to China in terms of the variety of apparel fabrics?

India and China have many similarities in the apparel fabrics they produce. Both are strong in traditional products such as silks. Both nations provide for an enormous domestic market, as well as for export. And both have cheap labour and have recently gone through reforms resulting in them investing heavily in machinery, so they can now produce quality and new fabrics and therefore increase their competitiveness in the international market.

Can we hope to some day be host to Interstoff Asia Spring? What steps does our government need to take to be able to host international trade shows like Interstoff?

To host an international trade fair such as Interstoff Asia, India must develop one of its cities into an international trade platform. For example, Hong Kong has established itself as a hub for the textile and garment trade. We are the second largest exporter of garments and we are also one of the leading importer and exporter of textiles.

Hong Kong is also the world’s freest economy - it has free port status, free currency exchange, state-of-the-art infrastructure, free flow of information and strong legal and financial sectors and expertise in international trade. All these factors make Hong Kong a trouble free location for foreign companies to channel their business in Asia, and therefore provides and ideal location for an international trade show such as Interstoff Asia.

What advice would you give Indian apparel manufacturers/exporters based on your experience at Interstoff Asia?

I am impressed with the reforms the Indian industry has undertaken in the past few years. Now Indian manufacturers must take every opportunity to explain to their potential export markets what their strengths are. To this extent, Interstoff Asia has one major thing going for it - real business is being done. Time and time again I have heard from exhibitors that even when the halls aren’t crowded, there are still quality customers on-site who want to talk seriously about business. That’s why the exhibitors and visitors keep coming back - Interstoff Asia is still the most important meeting point for the apparel fabric industry in Asia Pacific for international business.