Dr. Ashwani Kumar Minister of State for Industry inaugurated the India Japan Fashion Show at Osaka last evening, as part of India Japan Friendship Year 2007 celebrations. The show sponsored by JETRO and the Embassy of India in Japan was intended to showcase Indian fabrics and textiles to increase India’s share of global textile and clothing trade from the current level of 3.5% to 7%.
In his inaugural address Dr Kumar pointed out the that the National Manufacturing Competitiveness Commission (NMCC) has estimated that India’s share in global clothing and textile trade can be increased from US $51 billion to US $ 110 billion by 2012.
Remarking on the Fashion Show, he said that the event should be seen as an important initiative and deepen further the economic and cultural bonding between India and Japan. “Fashion represents the evolution of society and is also a manifestation of individual expression in which sense it is an art form”, he said. The Minister expressed the hope that the event would raise the visibility of richness of India’s fabrics in Japan, which received the first piece of Indian textiles in the early seventeenth century, which is still used as an ornamental screen for the Gion Rath Yatra- a key festival in Japan.
The fashion event showcased Indian fabrics designed by Japanese fashion designer Ms. Hiroko Koshino and Manish Arora from India. Among those attending the event were Mr. Taro Nakayama, President Japan India Parliamentarians Friendship League, Vice Governor and Mayor of OSAKA, Mr. Hiyashi, Chairman JETRO and H K Singh Indian Ambassador to Japan.
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RJ/NR/MRS
(Release ID :29449)