COVID-induced crisis has led to Indian textile and apparel manufacturers losing 20 per cent orders to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. This has compelled apparel manufacturers in Noida and Greater Noida to shift to PPE manufacturing as a stopgap measure, However, Lalit Thukral, President, Noida Apparel Exporters Council (NAEC) claims, this cannot substitute their core business of garment making. To alleviate their sufferings, A Sathivel, Chairman, AEPC has urged Prime Minister to declare apparel exports as essential services and exempt these exporting units from lockdowns across India.

Apparel exports units in India have been unable execute orders due to lockdowns. This is likely to result in not just short-term loss of orders and export earnings but also a long-term loss of the buyers, warns Sakthivel. In 2020, Indian apparel exports declined 13 per cent to $14 billion due to loss of buyers, informs Rahul Mehta, Chief Mentor, CMAI.