CHINA’S economy rose 6.7 percent year-on-year in the first quarter, the slowest in seven years, but an array of economic data point to a recovery in March. Gross domestic product was 15.85 trillion yuan (US$2.44 trillion) in the first quarter, with the service sector accounting for 56.9 percent, 2 percentage points higher than the same period of last year, data with the National Bureau of Statistic showed today. The GDP growth was slower than the 6.8 percent growth in the fourth quarter la

Bangladeshi jute mill workers in Khulna have called off their strike after talks with the government. “They are withdrawing their protests from this moment. They'll return to the factories from the next working day,” a newspaper quoted Mirza Azam, State Minister for Jute, as saying. The workers have been assured of four-weeks of pay and dearness allowance to be paid before April 25, said Sohrab Hossain, convener of an organisation of state-owned jute mill workers. “This has prompted us

The Union Textile Ministry's North-East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS) seeks to boost textile exports, increase jobs and curb the migration of workers. The scheme also aims to develop and modernise the textile sector by providing region-specific flexibility in execution with a massive funds infusion. “Under the NERTPS, the textile ministry has been providing Rs.18 crore each for setting up of a ready-made garment manufacturing unit or 'Apparel and Garment Making Centre' (AGMC) in ea

With technical textile industry of India likely to grow at a rate of 20 percent annually to touch $30 billion over the next five years and composite industry also pegged at $2.2 billion with an expected growth of 15 percent per annum over the next four years. Taiwanese composite and technical textile companies are exploring partnership opportunities with Indian firms across various industries to meet their growing demand. Taiwanese composite and technical textile companies are keen to penetra

Moderate trading activity was witnessed at the cotton market as buyers made deals for quality lint on slightly higher prices at around Rs 5,675 per maund during the trading session and around 360 bales changed hands. The Karachi Cotton Association (KCA) spot rate remained unchanged Rs 5,450 per maund. The ginners of Punjab offered cotton of all grades to the buyers around Rs 5,000 per maund to Rs 5,100 per maund while ginners of Sindh offered low-grade lint to the buyers around Rs 4,975 per m

A staffer operates a machine that weaves pleat cloth at the Miyake Issey Exhibition at the National Art Center in Tokyo. — AFP FROM ready-to-wear knits manufactured instantly to customized dresses produced on inkjet printers, Japan’s apparel industry is turning to state-of-the-art technology in a bold bid to cut labor costs and secure its future. At manufacturing giant Shima Seiki’s factory in western Japan, garments materialize in minutes, thanks to digitally-programed automated machines

The Union government has undertaken a Rs 1,038 crore ($156 million) scheme in the Northeast to boost textile exports, increase jobs and curb the migration of workers. Funded by the Union Ministry of Textiles under the North-East Region Textile Promotion Scheme (NERTPS), the project is also aimed at developing and modernising the textile sector by providing region-specific flexibility in execution. "Under the NERTPS, the textile ministry has been providing Rs.18 crore each for setting up of

The Indian Spinners Association (ISA) has asked the government to end anti-dumping duty imposed on imports of viscose staple fibre (VSF) because the levy could hit domestic textile manufacturers. The ISA's demand has come amid the Directorate General of Anti-Dumping & Allied Duties, under the commerce ministry, initiating a sunset review investigation for assessing the need for continuation of anti-dumping duty on viscose staple fibre (VSF) imported from Indonesia and China. In a state

A new biotech trait currently in the development stage could provide improved control of thrips and plant bugs in cotton, according to researchers with the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture (UTIA). The new Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) technology, which is being developed by Monsanto, is commonly referred to as the “Lygus trait” because it was originally developed to protect cotton from tarnished plant bugs (a Lygus species). However, during field-testing, researchers also noted

The industries in Coimbatore especially textile industry want government to improve the competitiveness of the industries compared to those in other states for which they have some common demands that they want the elected representatives to address industry specific issues and some others. Even if the political parties do not include these in their election manifestos, they need to address the problems if elected to power, said industry representatives. For the textile industry here, one of