With doors open for export of non-surgical masks, Noida’s garment industry gets its hopes high

Most of the garment industries only resumed limited operations in the first week of May after the lockdown restrictions were eased in the country.

Bringing cheer to the garment industry in Gautam Budh Nagar, the central government on Saturday has for the first time eased the restrictions on the export of non-surgical and non-medical masks. The directorate general of foreign trade in the Union ministry of commerce and industry issued a notification on Saturday lifting the prohibition on export of non-surgical and non-medical masks of all types, including silk, wool and knitted ones.

The garment industry is the second-biggest sector in the state after agriculture in terms of the number of people it engages. (Yogendra Kumar/HT file photo. Representative image)

Lalit Thukral, president, Noida Apparel Export Cluster (NAEC), said after amending the export policy for masks and providing them five different ITC-HS codes, the garment manufacturers of GB Nagar are expected to make at least one lakh masks per day. In India, eight-digit ITC-HS(Indian trade clarification based on harmonized system) codes are allotted to products that are to be imported or exported.

According to estimates, the district hosts more than 3,000 garment factories which employ around 15 lakh workers. The garment industry is the second-biggest sector in the state after agriculture in terms of the number of people it engages.

“Garment factories will not have any dearth of raw materials as many leftover fabrics, including cotton, silk, wool, polyester among others, can be used for making masks. This decision to allow export of non-medical masks will not only give a new lease of life to the garment industry in Noida which had suffered a huge loss caused by nationwide lockdown due to Covid-19, but will also pave a new way in the export domain,” he said.

Most of the garment industries only resumed limited operations in the first week of May after the lockdown restrictions were eased in the country. While the garment units are allowed to operate with 30% percent workforce, industry owners have been battling a shortage of workers as many of them have returned to their home towns.

Thukral, who chaired a meeting of garment exporters just after the notification was released, said all the garment manufacturers are very enthusiastic and more than willing to make designer masks. “These designer masks will not only attract foreign buyers but will also provide a larger canvas to the research and design wings of the garment units,” he said.

Echoing similar views, Manoj Sahu, who runs a garment export company in Noida, said that according to his personal estimates, garment units operating in the district can make at least a total of 30 lakhs masks in a month. He said going by his expectations, the garment industry in the district can generate an additional revenue of at least ₹50 crore a month. “Apart from generating additional revenue, the government’s decision will also create more jobs in the garment manufacturing sector,” he said.