Surat,
Gujarat
The textile
sector of Surat is reeling under sluggish demand due to the second wave of the
pandemic. Order books have tanked and traders are opening their shops only to
follow up with clients to clear previous payments. The Gujarat government has
eased the restrictions but as the other parts of the country are still reeling
under the after-effects of the second wave, revival still seems far away.
Traders who had stocked up goods for marriage season are now finding it
difficult to clear the inventory.
Champalal
Bothra, general secretary, Federation of Surat Textile Traders Association
(FOSTTA), said that, they are not getting customers as the season of marriage
and Ramzaan is over. The only little business we will be able to do now is for
Rakshabandhan.
Many who are not
able to pay are simply returning the stock. The situation is the same all the
way up in the supply chain. Weavers are complaining that production has halved
as sales have reduced while many embroidery unit owners have simply shut their
units.
According to
Ashok Jirawala, President, Federation of Gujarat Weavers Welfare Association,
they have not seen a time like this as sales are down to 25% of what it used to
be and stock is only piling up. He also said that there is no clarity when
things will change for good because lockdown is still there in many states and
there is fear of the third wave.
Source:
The Times Of India
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