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Abdul Razak Dawood

urges industrialization Denim Première Vision

through import substitution

Mr Abdul Razak Dawood said industrialization Pakistani industrial sector. 2019 in Milan and London
through import substitution coupled with
export growth through diversification was He remarked, “We will give a framework for
the industrial policy that which industry is of
imperative to put the country on road to strategic importance and the government
progress and prosperity. have to support it.”
Denim Première Vision will be held in Milan during brands, which are among the largest players in the
At FCCI, he said during the last decade, many He said some experts approached him that June 5-6, 2019 and London, during December 4-5, sector, and being an international city, well-structured
industrial units had been closed down, due to the development of industrial sector should be 2019. Last May in Paris, the show unveiled a and inviting for visitors.
which, Pakistan’s export dwindled from US$ 25 left on market mechanism. “I think, it is not right redesigned event format, with a new positioning,
to 20 billion. He said, “Our exports remained time as we have to boost our industry which is display, experiences, and destination for the entire Mr Guglielmo Olearo, show director, says “This
restricted to textile, however, we are planning to passing through a tough internal competition denim value chain and its players. The show is initiative is part of our broader (roving denim)
give a comprehensive industrialization policy, with squeezing market,” he added. aimed at creative fashion brands developing denim strategy, begun in 2018. We held the show in Paris in
wherein, focus will be on engineering, chemical, collections. May and in London in December with a specific
IT and agriculture sectors instead of the textile He cited the example of Japan, Korea, mission: to make the best use of geographic
sector alone.” He lamented that we must shun Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia and said Exploring the different facets of contemporary denim, proximity and bring our exhibitors to markets with
the import trend and encourage ‘Made in that they had supported their industrial sector the show is aimed at all the creative fashion brands strong potential. Milan fits in perfectly with this
Pakistan’ culture to give a supporting hand to to achieve self-sufficiency. developing denim collections - fashion and luxury strategy. The Lombard capital has a long history with
brands, pure jeanswear players, web players and denim, and the city is fostering a lot of truly
more. The show is now an itinerant international contemporary and sophisticated concepts. So it
event, organized in different European cities with a
made sense to include this city among our preferred
Government Support to Cotton fashion impact. The goal of Denim Première Vision is locations. The event will take place next June, before
the show returns to London in December 2019. We
to provide industry professionals an opportunity to
Sector Up 33% to $5.9 Billion meet new markets, while simultaneously discovering wanted to touch down in capitals with mature fashion
industries, cities that can inspire our exhibitors and
new sources of inspiration.
our brands. Milan is all of that, especially in Zona
Now multi-community and further removed from Tortona, a post-industrial neighborhood thrumming
Subsidies to the cotton sector took a major jump support in cotton in 1997-98, trends have shown traditional vintage denim codes, the denim sector with culture and creativity. It is a focal location of the
in the season including direct support to that subsidies decline when prices are high and has adopted the seasonality of the fashion industry big Italian houses, and we chose it because it has a
production, border protection, crop insurance increase when prices are low. When cotton in terms of product creation and development. storied past while continuing to invent new stories.
subsidies, and minimum support price prices increased from 70 cents per pound in We will bring together around a hundred exhibitors,
mechanisms. At $5.9 billion, it reflects an 2015-16 to 83 cents per pound in 2016-17, The Denim Première Vision show alights for the first from no fewer than 16 countries. And the whole
increase of 33% over the last years total of subsidies decreased. When prices jumped again time in Italy’s fashion capital in June 2019, in an aim sector will be represented: from upstream with the
$4.4 billion. to 88 cents per pound in 2017-18, however, is to broaden the business outlook for its partners. weavers and manufacturers on through to finishings
subsidies continued to increase.
Those are the findings in the last year The aim of the show is to touch down above all in and treatments that give denim its washed, frayed
mature markets offering denim professionals new
look. And, of course, all the components and
‘Production and Trade Subsidies Affecting the The share of world cotton production receiving business development opportunities. treatments.”
Cotton Industry’ report just released by the direct government assistance — including direct
International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). payments and border protection — increased The Lombard capital meets all the criteria the As an itinerant show, Denim Première Vision also
In all, 10 countries provided subsidies to their from an average of 55% between 1997-98 and industry is looking for – being an inspiring city that intends to ensure a continuity between its various
domestic cotton industries with an average value 2007-08, to an estimated 83% in 2008-09. From constantly reinvents itself while capitalizing on its editions. While the show turns to new destinations to
of 18 cents per pound, up from 17 cents per 2009-10 through 2013-14, this share declined historic cultural roots, being the center of Italian help businesses invest in new markets, the challenge
pound the year before. and averaged 48%.
fashion, featuring a wide range of creative brands, also lies in building ongoing relationships between
from high street to luxury, being a historic denim these various players. The December 2019 edition
One data point that has reversed long-term In 2014-15 and 2015-16, the average percentage capital that saw the birth of pioneering industry will thus be held once again in London.
trends is the correlation between prices and the of production receiving direct assistance
amounts of subsidies provided by governments. increased to 75%. That number then declined to
Since the Secretariat began tracking government 47% in 2016-17 and 2017-18.

April/May 2020 November/December 2018