E-commerce has emerged as another avenue for increasing its textile exports as this platform has earlier largely been ignored by the textile sector. An awareness session at the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) enlightened the textile millers in this regard.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) MindWhiz Shah Hassan made a detailed presentation to the APTMA members on ways to increase exports through international e-commerce platforms. He revealed that global market volume is over $600 billion with China on top e-commerce global exporter. He also pointed out that despite low value exports Pakistan is ranked as the third top most countries having highest number of sellers after the USA and China. Pakistan’s major exports include carpets, rugs, leather, sports goods and textiles.
He said one seller from Pakistan generated $650 million through an e-commerce platform. He said there is a large scope for textile exports from Pakistan through e-commerce. He said textile products from apparel to bedding can be exported through these platforms. He also highlighted selling strategies on these platforms.
He said e-commerce platforms facilitate the exporter to establish brands which otherwise is very expensive to establish in normal trade. Since there are no middlemen involved the seller can operate of high profit margins of over 46 percent through e-commerce
Vice Chairman APTMA Asad Shafi was optimistic Pakistan could add $6 billion in its textile exports through Amazon which would still be only one percent of its total turnover. He informed Patron-in-Chief APTMA Gohar Ejaz has given a plan to utilize surplus yarn and fabric valuing about $3 billion in local production of garments and other value added textile products. The textile sector plans to establish 1000 garment units to achieve this aim.
He hoped that the stitching revolution coupled with normal BMR will uplift total textile exports to $50 billion in the next five years.
