India has a significant opportunity to increase apparel exports to Japan in the wake of a decline in Chinese clothing exports, according to the Apparel Export Promotion Council. The AEPC sent a delegation of members to Tokyo, Japan to attend the India Tex Trends Fair’s 12th edition. 

“Apparel imports into Japan have witnessed a positive mark in the last three years,” said the AEPC’s chairman Naren Goenka at the fair’s inauguration, the Press Trust of India reported. “Japan’s total import from the world, which was $28.49 billion in 2018, has now risen to $46.72 billion.” 
 
Over 180 exhibitors are taking part in the trade fair to showcase Indian manufacturing, ET Bureau reported. As India’s current share of Japanese imports is only 1%, the AEPC is confident that there is an opportunity to increase the market share. 

“We hold a strong business opportunity in Japan reflected by the fact that China, which has been a dominant garment supplier to Japan, has witnessed a decline in the past five years giving significant advantage to India,” said Goenka. “Moreover, the duty-free access for Indian ready-made garments post-Indo-Japan free trade agreement as against about 9% for China and Turkey is a big advantage for us.” 
 
The India Tex Trends Fair ran from July 19 to 21 in Shibuya, Tokyo, the APEC announced on its website. The event is designed to link Indian exporters with Japanese importers and retailers.