India

India’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce says that textiles are the country’s top labor-intensive export. During the first half of the current fiscal year, Indian textile exports accounted for over 74% of all labor-intensive exports (about US$22.5 billion total), though that share is lower than in previous years. Ministry officials are using the data to urge continued support from the government. (Fibre2Fashion)

The Southern India Mills’ Association (SIMA) is urging the Tamil Nadu government to exempt the textile industry from a new increase in the power tariff. In a statement, the head of SIMA noted that the rate hike would take a significant bite out of the profits of textile mills in the region, which are among the top economic drivers in the region, and asked the government to consider a separate, lower tariff for the textile industry because many production facilities run 24 hours a day. (Fibre2Fashion)