Imports of knitted apparel (HS **) eased to NZ$*,***.** million (~$***.** million) from NZ$*,***.** million, registering a decline of *.* per cent. Similarly, non-knitted apparel (HS **) imports fell to NZ$***.** million (~$***.** million) from NZ$***.** million, down *.* per cent. The parallel softness across both segments indicates broad-based stabilisation in garment demand rather than category-specific weakness.

In contrast, textile fabric imports (HS **) showed strong growth, rising to NZ$**.** million (~$**.** million) in fiscal ****–** from NZ$**.** million in the previous fiscal, marking an increase of **.* per cent. This suggests relatively steady demand for intermediate inputs even as finished apparel imports softened.

The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference (VGRC), scheduled to be held on May 1-2 in Surat, is expected to create direct connections between global buyers and local manufacturers, facilitate technology transfer and draw foreign direct investment (FDI) into key sectors, including textiles.

State officials are hopeful of the conference helping accelerate the industrial development of South Gujarat by attracting large-scale investments.

The Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference, scheduled to be held on May 1-2 in Surat, is expected to create direct connections between global buyers and local manufacturers, facilitate technology transfer and draw FDI into key sectors, including textiles.
Alongside the conference, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition (VGRE) will also be held at the same venue from May 1 to 5.

A new state textile policy implemented in 2024 offers capital subsidies ranging from 10 to 35 per cent for new units and aims at expanding employment opportunities through value addition across the supply chain. The conference is expected to align state policy initiatives with industry requirements.

Alongside the conference, the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Exhibition (VGRE) will also be held at the same venue from May 1 to 5. The exhibition will also showcase the achievements of micro, small and medium enterprises, and handicraft and cottage industries, an official release said.

The last such conference was organised in Rajkot.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)

India signed the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement on ** April **** at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, eliminating tariffs on *** per cent of New Zealand’s *,*** tariff lines from Day * of entry into force. For Indian textile and apparel exporters, the deal resolves a structural anomaly: until this week, India was the only major textile supplier still paying MFN duty in New Zealand, while China (NZ–China FTA, ****), Bangladesh (LDC scheme), Vietnam and Indonesia (CPTPP and RCEP) all entered duty-free. Concluded in a record nine months after Prime Ministers Modi and Luxon launched negotiations in March ****, the pact is India’s seventh FTA in three and a half years, anchoring a textile-trade diversification strategy targeting USD *** billion in exports by ****.

TexPro trade intelligence reveals a highly asymmetric and complementary bilateral flow. India exports a diversified $*** million textile basket to New Zealand, while importing nearly $** million, of which **.* per cent is raw wool (HS **). This is not competition; it is a fibre-to-finished-goods value chain waiting to be formalised.