To capitalise on the opportunities presented by the current political instability in Bangladesh, Indian textile companies need to first focus on skills development and address labor shortages, says KR Nagarajan, Founder and Chairman, Ramraj Cotton. 

Emphasising on the current skills gap in the industry, particularly garment production, Nagarajan says, despite automation modernising areas such as spinning, weaving, and dyeing, processes like designing, cutting, sewing, and finishing continue to rely on human labor. 

The garment sector lacks skilled workforce, adds Nagarajan. With many workers being migrants, most of them often lack the necessary expertise. Though some manufacturers invest in training, others do not. This disparity makes it difficult to scale up production efficiently. He therefore calls for a greater investment in skill training from both central and state governments to address this issue.

Drawing comparisons with Bangladesh and China, Nagarajan opines, India should follow a similar path by addressing labor shortages through skill development. This would also help combat unemployment in the country, he adds further. 

A part of ENES Textile Mills, Ramraj Cotton recently opened a new store in Jayanagar, Bengaluru, and plans to add 15 more stores by March 2025. The company aims to expand its presence in the North, East, and West of India besides increasing its international reach. Currently exporting to Sri Lanka, Singapore, and Malaysia, Ramraj Cotton plans to enter the UAE market.

However, before embarking on an international expansion, Ramraj Cotton aims to become a pan-India brand over the next two years, adds Nagarajan. The company currently has 304 stores across India besides production units in Tiruppur, Erode, Salem and Madhurai.