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The Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) has said that the free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the UAE is giving duty free access to the garment sector and it will help increase share of domestic exports in that country.

Chairman Fair and Exhibitions AEPC Ashok Rajani said India is the second largest supplier of ready-made garments to the UAE after China. The UAE has traditionally been the topmost trading partner for Indian garment exports. With signing of the UAE-India CEPA agreement giving duty free access to Indian garment exports, this share is expected to increase further. CEPA stands for the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement.

Elaborating on the strengths of the garment industry, Rajani said after having established itself in traditional garments, the Indian apparel industry has now moved on to diversifying itself into newer areas of MMF garments with a technical textiles segment worth $16 billion with 6 per cent share of the global market.