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India, EU review progress in FTA negotiations

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India, EU review progress in FTA negotiations



Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal recently visited Brussels to advance the ongoing India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations. During the visit, he held constructive and forward-looking discussions with Maros Sefcovic, European Commissioner for Trade and Economic Security, and his team to address outstanding negotiation issues and provide strategic direction for the conclusion of a balanced and mutually beneficial FTA.

Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to conclude the India-EU FTA by the end of 2025, following the clear direction from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen during the College of Commissioners’ visit to New Delhi in February 2025. The engagement focused on achieving a mutually beneficial, balanced and equitable trade agreement, reflecting the depth of political trust and the strategic ties between India and the European Union, and at the same time respecting each other’s sensitivities and priorities. 

Union Minister Piyush Goyal visited Brussels to advance India-EU FTA negotiations, holding productive talks with EU Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on outstanding issues.
Both sides reaffirmed their aim to conclude a balanced, mutually beneficial FTA by end-2025, addressing tariff, non-tariff, and regulatory concerns.
An EU technical team will visit India next week to build on the progress achieved.

India recognises the importance of ensuring that the FTA remains balanced in addressing both tariff and non-tariff barriers and creating transparent and predictable regulatory frameworks that accelerate trade for both partners in the coming years, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a press release.

There was intensive engagement to explore possible landing zones on the outstanding issues. There was also a good discussion on India’s concerns on non-tariff measures and the new EU regulations. During the negotiations, Goyal emphasised the need for preferential treatment for India’s key asks, particularly those with respect to labour-intensive sectors. Both sides agreed to work closely to finalise the non-sensitive industrial tariff lines. They also agreed that issues related to steel, auto, CBAM, and other EU regulations still require further discussion, as these issues have higher sensitivities.

India looks forward to working closely with the European Union to transform this vision into reality through shared innovation, balanced, equitable, and meaningful trade, and a collective commitment to peace and prosperity. To advance the ongoing discussions, the EU technical team led by the director general for trade will visit India next week with the objective of achieving a constructive conclusion based on the potential solutions identified over the past two days, the release added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RR)



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India’s PDS Limited reports 18% GMV growth & strong Q2 performance

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India’s PDS Limited reports 18% GMV growth & strong Q2 performance



PDS Limited, India’s leading supply chain solutions provider to global brands and retailers across product development, sourcing, manufacturing, and brand management, reported an 18 per cent sequential surge in gross merchandise value (GMV) to ₹5,467 crore (~$619.2 million) in the second quarter (Q2) of fiscal 2026 (FY26) ended September 30, 2025, from ₹4,634 crore (~$524.7 million) in Q1 FY26. This brought the H1 FY26 GMV to ₹10,101 crore, reflecting an increase of 8 per cent year-over-year (YoY).

The revenue from operations grew 14 per cent sequentially to ₹3,419 crore, while gross profit improved 17 per cent to ₹680 crore. EBITDA more than doubled to ₹103 crore in Q2 FY26, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency. Profit after tax (PAT) jumped 142 per cent quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) to ₹48 crore. On a half-yearly basis, EBITDA and PAT declined 31 per cent and 41 per cent YoY respectively, primarily due to higher input costs and strategic restructuring, PDS Limited said in a press release.

India’s PDS Limited has reported an 18 per cent rise in GMV to ₹5,467 crore (~$619.2 million) in Q2 FY26, with revenue up 14 per cent and PAT surging 142 per cent to ₹48 crore.
The order book reached ₹5,308 crore (~$601.1 million), up 15 per cent YoY.
Improved working capital efficiency generated ₹593 crore in cash flow, and the board declared an interim dividend of ₹1.65 per share.

“Our results demonstrate that sustainable growth is achieved through focus, efficiency, and disciplined execution. Our growth journey is centered on strengthening and expanding the potential of our existing businesses and partnerships, with no new investments at this stage. By sharpening our focus on execution, leveraging synergies, and fostering collaboration across our global network, we are building a stronger, more efficient, and purpose-driven PDS—one that grows sustainably and responsibly while upholding the highest standards of governance,” said Pallak Seth, executive vice chairman at PDS Limited.

“We continue towards our commitment of building a resilient, cost-efficient PDS. Our focus remains on driving operational excellence across our core business verticals, which is starting to show in our results, with optimized working capital and reduced net debt levels. By focusing on high-impact areas and streamlining underperforming verticals, we are enabling responsible growth and building a future-ready organization scaling towards enhancing profitability,” said Sanjay Jain, group CEO.

As of early October 2025, PDS Limited’s order book stood at ₹5,308 crore (~$601.1 million), marking a 15 per cent YoY increase and reflecting sustained business momentum despite global macroeconomic headwinds. The company achieved notable improvement in working capital efficiency, reducing net working capital days from 17 in March 2025 to 6 in September 2025, generating ₹593 crore in cash flow from operations. The board also approved an interim dividend of ₹1.65 per share, consistent with the previous year, added the release.

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India’s IIP growth rate 4% in Sept 2025; IIP 152.8

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India’s IIP growth rate 4% in Sept 2025; IIP 152.8



India’s growth rate of the index of industrial production (IIP) for September this year was 4 per cent, according to quick estimates released by the National Statistics Office (NSO) under the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The figure remains unchanged from quick estimates of August 2025.

The IIP stood at 152.8 compared to 146.9 in September 2024.

India’s growth rate of the index of industrial production (IIP) for September was 4 per cent, according to quick estimates by the National Statistics Office.
The figure remains unchanged from quick estimates of August 2025.
The IIP stood at 152.8 compared to 146.9 in September 2024.
The IIP growth rate for manufacturing in the month was 4.8 per cent, while the IIP for the sector was 154.3.

The IIP growth rate for manufacturing in the month was 4.8 per cent, while the IIP for the sector was 154.3.

Within the manufacturing sector, 13 out of 23 industry groups at National Industrial Classification (NIC) 2 digit-level have recorded a year-on-year (YoY) positive growth in September.

The indices stood at 143.3 for primary goods, 122 for capital goods, 169.4 for intermediate goods and 197.6 for infrastructure/construction goods for September, a ministry release said.

Further, the indices for consumer durables and non-durables stood at 146.5 and 141.5 respectively.

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Swarovski brings its ‘Masters of Light’ exhibition to Los Angeles

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Swarovski brings its ‘Masters of Light’ exhibition to Los Angeles


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October 29, 2025

Swarovski’s traveling exhibition “Masters of Light” made its U.S. debut on Wednesday, at the Amoeba Music venue in Los Angeles.

Swarovski brings its “Masters of Light” exhibition to Los Angeles. – Swarovski

Running until November 3, the exhibition celebrates the Austrian luxury house’s 130th anniversary and its heritage of creativity, craftsmanship, and cultural influence.

Curated by British fashion journalist and critic Alexander Fury, and presented under the creative direction of Swarovski global creative director Giovanna Engelbert, the latest chapter, Masters of Light — Hollywood, explores Swarovski’s deep ties to the entertainment industry and its role in shaping some of the most memorable moments in cinema and fashion history.

“We are delighted to bring the Masters of Light exhibition to Los Angeles as part of our 130 Years of Joy anniversary celebration,” said Alexis Nasard, Swarovski CEO.

“As the global epicenter of the music and film industry, this is the ideal setting to honor our intimate connection to Hollywood and our role in its most iconic moments. Swarovski continues to be a key protagonist in pop culture through the sparkle of our various activities and are proud to celebrate our legacy through this.”

Among the standout displays is the original gown worn by Marilyn Monroe when she famously sang “Happy Birthday” to U.S. President John F. Kennedy.

The exhibition also features the Pop Icons chamber, showcasing crystal-embellished outfits worn by performers including Beyoncé, Madonna, Tina Turner, and Lady Gaga.

Another section, Silver Screen Style, highlights Swarovski’s longstanding collaborations with Hollywood costume designers and filmmakers, while Mathemagical delves into the brand’s savoir-faire in crystal making and jewelry design, spotlighting couture pieces created by Engelbert for the Met Gala.

Adding a contemporary twist, Engelbert expands Swarovski’s narrative to include modern pop culture through displays of its iconic crystal figurines from Disney princesses to Marvel superheroes, and introduces a limited-edition collaboration with Erewhon, featuring exclusive products available during the exhibition.

“Since I joined as global creative director in 2020, my goal has been to spotlight this link between Swarovski and pop culture, fashion, stage, and screen,” explained Engelbert.

“It has been a dream working on this US premiere in the heart of Hollywood. There is no better location to showcase the stories and iconic pieces that have made us a staple of pop culture for 130 years and counting.”

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