Fashion
India optimistic about renewed SACU trade pact talks: Envoy
The agreement will offer market access for many Indian goods to South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Botswana.
He was addressing the second annual India-South Africa Business Conclave.
India’s envoy to South Africa Prabhat Kumar has said that New Delhi is confident about the latest round of talks to finalise the Southern African Customs Union (SACU) Preferential Trade Agreement.
The agreement will offer market access for many Indian goods to South Africa, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini and Botswana.
The impetus for such a pact emerged in 2003, but have been stalled for over a decade now.
The impetus for a trade arrangement between India and SACU emerged in 2003, but have been stalled for over a decade now.
A joint study group (JSG) was established to examine the feasibility and potential scope of a trade agreement, followed by a number of meetings in ensuing years in Pretoria, New Delhi and Windhoek, a news agency reported.
Though SACU presented a revised text of the PTA by 2010, the talks considerably slowed down as both sides struggled to reach consensus on the list of products for tariff concessions.
India expressed interest in accessing SACU’s market for its textiles and clothing, which SACU deemed highly sensitive sectors. On the other hand, SACU sought access for its agricultural products and minerals, facing competitive or sensitive responses from India.
Following the economic challenges arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic and, India and SACU revived the PTA discussions.
The diplomat invited delegates to participate in the India-Africa Forum Summit later this year which will bring together the heads of state from African countries in New Delhi.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Fashion
Italy’s Thermore launches Ecodown Fibers T2T recycled insulation
With Thermore Ecodown Fibers T2T, Thermore marks a major leap forward, reinforcing its leadership and unwavering commitment to a more sustainable future. This innovative free fiber allows for the recovery of textile polyester waste and its transformation into warm, high-performance insulation. Made from 100% recycled polyester fibers, this clever blend is a combination of 80% post-industrial textile waste and 20% post-consumer PET bottles. Unlike the downcycling that typically characterizes textile recovery, Ecodown Fibers T2T stands apart by delivering the same high quality of other Thermore products. “I have personally coordinated the Thermore research group for years, and the theme of circularity and textile-to-textile has long been the subject of study by our team,” says Patrizio Siniscalchi, Managing Director of Thermore.
Thermore has launched Ecodown Fibers T2T, a free fibre insulation made from 100 per cent recycled polyester.
The blend uses 80 per cent post-industrial textile waste and 20 per cent post-consumer PET bottles, enabling textile-to-textile recovery.
The high-loft, soft insulation offers durable performance, versatility, and is GRS, Bluesign, and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
“In fact, just as we pioneered the use of recycled fibers from PET bottles over 40 years ago, in recent years we have worked on the revaluation of textile waste. Ecodown Fibers T2T is already the second generation of padding we have produced using these important resources.” But sustainability is not the only strong point of this product. Ecodown Fibers T2T stands out for its high lofting and softness, guaranteeing optimal comfort. It’s also highly versatile and can be blown into baffles, placed inside panels, or applied by hand.
Its structure is engineered to stay stable over time minimizing clumping. Ecodown Fibers T2T is GRS (Global Recycled Standard) certified, a standard that verifies the content of recycled materials and traceability along the production chain. It also holds Bluesign and OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifications, related to the control of chemical substances and compliance with rigorous criteria for product safety and health protection.
With this new product, Thermore once again wants to redefine the concept of responsible thermal insulation – no longer a simple technical element, but an integral part of a system where durability, performance, and resource efficiency become central design factors. Ecodown Fibers T2T represents an evolution for the world of fashion and sports, towards solutions where responsibility, performance, and style find a concrete balance.
Note: The headline, insights, and image of this press release may have been refined by the Fibre2Fashion staff; the rest of the content remains unchanged.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RM)
Fashion
Bangladesh garment exports down to $25.7 billion in July-February
Woven garment exports witnessed limited decline compared to knitted garment exports. Knitwear exports (Chapter **) declined by *.** per cent to $**.*** billion, compared with $**.*** billion in the same period of fiscal ****–**. Woven apparel exports (Chapter **) eased *.** per cent to $**.*** billion, down from $**.*** billion during July-February ****, EPB data showed.
Home textile exports (Chapter **, excluding ******) expanded, increasing by *.** per cent to $***.** million from $***.** million in the same period of the previous fiscal. Taken together, exports of woven and knitted apparel, clothing accessories, and home textiles accounted for **.** per cent of Bangladesh’s total exports, which stood at $**.*** billion during the period.
Fashion
UK to scrap tariffs on 33 goods to aid offshore wind manufacturing
The tariff relief will allow British manufacturers to import certain components at zero customs duty under the Authorised Use procedure.
The UK Government will remove tariffs on 33 industrial goods from April 1 to lower costs for offshore wind manufacturers and support clean energy expansion.
The measure allows duty-free imports of wind turbine components under authorised use rules and follows £22 billion in offshore wind investment secured earlier this year to accelerate renewable energy development.
Officials said the measure will help manufacturers produce components at lower cost and reinvest savings to accelerate growth in the renewable energy sector. Offshore wind is currently the offshore wind energy industry’s largest renewable source in the United Kingdom and is considered significantly cheaper to produce and maintain than new gas projects.
The announcement follows a record 8.4 GW of offshore wind capacity and £22 billion in investment secured during the Contracts for Difference Allocation Round 7 earlier this year. The investments include the Berwick Bank offshore wind farm, one of the world’s largest planned offshore wind developments.
According to the government, the tariff measure also aligns with its broader trade and industrial strategy, ensuring trade policy supports domestic manufacturing while advancing the country’s clean energy transition.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (CG)
-
Politics5 days agoIndia let Iran warship dock the day US sank another off Sri Lanka, say officials
-
Sports5 days agoPakistan set for FIH Pro League debut | The Express Tribune
-
Business5 days agoRestaurant group changes name after bid to buys pubs across the UK
-
Entertainment5 days agoHarry Styles kicks off new era with ‘One Night Only’ comeback show
-
Business5 days agoHome heating oil: ‘Most of my pension has gone on home heating oil’
-
Sports5 days agoWinners and losers of the 2026 NHL trade deadline
-
Entertainment5 days agoKanye ‘Ye’ West trips during trial: ‘Is he asleep?’
-
Tech1 week agoGoogle’s Pixel 10a May Not Be Exciting, but It’s Still an Unbeatable Value
