Xhibition and Konferences targeting sales of about Rs 150 cr

Kolkata, Dec 18 (UNI) Xhibition and Konferences India, a garments and textile exhibition organiser operating in seven cities across India, is targeting sales of about Rs 150 crore this year in Kolkata.

Unveiling the Garnit X, Kolkata Edition, here today, Xhibition and Konferences India CEO B P Mishra said, ''The garments market in Kolkata is in the range of Rs 1000 crore, of which 50 per cent is being shared by the kids' wear market, the highest in India.'' This exhbition started for the first time here in 2004, when their total sales was at Rs 20 crore. They presently operate in Tiripur, which gives them the highest turnover, Bangalore, Kolkata, Surat, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Varanasi.

''About 45 overseas companies, including those from China, Italy, Korea, Japan, Germany, Taiwan and the US, with a total of 100 brands of sewing machines will display their equipment and their finished products,'' the CEO said and added that here buyers can get machines of high industrial value at Rs 10,000, an amount that they previously paid for secondhand machines from other countries.

The major overseas operators comes from China, contributing about 70 per cent of the companies holding major transactions with the local textile workers. ''About 90 per cent of the operators are oversseas companies with a few Indian companies operating within the country, since there are no manufacturing units here.'' ''This exhibition brings to them new machines at low prices to help the textile and garments business flourish in the city,'' Mr Mishra said, while adding that Indore and Kolkata were the biggest production centres in garments industry.

Speaking about the growth in export of garments manufactured here, the CEO said that despite depreciation of dollars, Kolkata has not been affected. ''Interestingly, the export level has increased by 50 per cent since the exhibition's inception,'' he said.

Saying that this exhibition is meant to promote textile and garment industry in the different regions of the country, Mr Mishra said this year's focus is on digital printing machines, which makes the whole production process fast and smooth.

UNI