Page 23 - November-December-2018
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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 Sector   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
 Up 33% to $5.9 Billion in 2017-18  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 2017-18 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 2016/17 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 2018 ‘Production   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
 and Trade Subsidies Affecting the Cotton   The share of world cotton production receiving   business development opportunities.  treatments.”
 Industry’ report just released by the International   direct government assistance — including direct
 Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). In all, 10   payments and border protection — increased   The Lombard capital meets all the criteria the   As an itinerant show, Denim Première Vision also
 countries provided subsidies to their domestic   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
 cotton industries with an average value of 18   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
 cents per pound, up from 17 cents per pound   2009-10 through 2013-14, this share declined   historic cultural roots, being the center of Italian   help businesses invest in new markets, the challenge
 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.

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