Industry Archives - GUJRAT INDIA

NBI on Telecom Industry

Step, back and marvel on the big picture- this is what networking business intelligence (NBI) is all about.

We are all aware how people, situation and circumstances are becoming more and more demanding by the second. Business establishments, such as banks, telecommunication companies, restaurants and others, need to find more ways to keep up with the fast changing world and fierce competition when it comes to the delivery of basic goods and services.

This scenario sets the need to expand in order to keep up with the demand. They would often come up with new technologies, services, and mergers and acquisitions. This leads to a morass of network devices, interfaces, services, and support systems.

It is indeed a race by the second with more and more systems bolted into existing networks in less optimal ways. Errors and incompatibilities are found on software patches resulting in complicated and often badly connected network leading to the possibility of data loss or corruption!

More than the technical aspect of network optimization, NBI is interested to take a much bigger view of the technology used in the business and its market. It has the goal of arriving at a fuller understanding of the state of business from these different perspectives, and to use that knowledge and understanding to make decisions that will make up the NBI platform.

NBI relies mainly on human professional intelligence. It enables key thinkers to penetrate and dominate the system with their knowledge, skills and intuition towards decisions that affect the company’s outlook.

It can expand business activity as well as performance monitoring through revenue assurance. It does away with revenue loss caused by misinterpreted, incorrect or misconfigured data- oftentimes the result of badly formatted business processes.

NBI can also recover and improve the efficiency of network assets. NBI applications could be understood by man-machine language. This provides a more accurate picture of utilization and configuration of the business.

This platform makes it easy to quickly add new activities and modules at the carrier’s request resulting to rapid deployment with an immediate short-term gain.

The Growth Story and Segmentation of Chemical Industry in India

The chemical industry in India is counted among those industries that began working immediately after the country’s independence in 1947. So, it is one of the oldest contributors towards the Indian economy. At present, the average annual growth rate of the industry is 12.5 percent.

The Indian chemical industry is divided into a number of segments and each segment has significantly contributed towards the overall growth rate of the industry. Various favorable factors have supported the industry to show desired progress rate. You can learn about these factors and have an overview of the industry from the following discussion.

It was till 1991 that India was a closed economy. However, the adoption of liberal policy in 1991 benefited most of the industries, including the chemical industry in India. Since then, the industry has gained recognition in the global economy. Today, it ranks 12th in the world in terms of production size. Also, the industry contributes 13 percent towards the total export from India at present.

It has been estimated that in the coming few years, the industry is going to attain the worth of 100 billion US dollars. To achieve this target, there is need for the improvement in the following areas:

More entrepreneurs are required to steer the industry on the path of expected growth.
Growth of the overseas sales network to help industrial chemical manufacturers in India to find international buyers.
Increase in direct employment within the industry.
Stress on chemical manufacturing knowledge and specialty.
Improvement in the health and safety standards.
Increased use of information technology in the industry.
And of course, the increase in specialty chemical plants.

The chemical industry in India is divided into various segments. Some of the main segments and their progress statistics are as below:

Inorganic chemicals constitute one of the major segments of the country’s total chemical production. A growth rate of 9 percent is recorded for the segment that includes alkalis, fertilizers and detergents as main chemicals.
Drugs and pharmaceuticals are among the most exported chemicals from India. This segment of the Indian chemical industry ranks at 4th position in the world. The growth rate of 8 to 9 percent is recorded by the segment.
Agro-chemical products include pesticides and fertilizers as the main chemicals in this category. The 10 percent domestic market growth rate is recorded by this segment.
Dyes and paints segment has a growth rate of about 12 percent. The segment also includes polymers and other related chemicals.
Petrochemicals in the Indian chemical manufacturing industry have the fastest growth rate of 15 percent.

Considering the growth trends in different sections of the chemical industry in India, one can easily place the industry among major contributors towards the overall growth of the country’s economy. To improve the sales network for the Indian chemicals, the manufacturers and suppliers need to rely upon the online b2b networks. The b2b directories are the places where small and medium sized chemical manufacturing enterprises can gain more benefits.

Indian Fashion Industry

Colourful fashion trends of India

With the end of the 20th century came the end of all hype which has created a more practical and pragmatic environment and has given a more stable picture of the fashion business.

In the 50s, 60s and 70s, the Indian fashion scenario wasn’t exactly colorless. It was exciting, stylish and very graceful. There were no designers, models, star or fashion design labels that the country could show off. The value of a garment was judged by its style and fabric and not by who made it.

It was regarded as ever so chic and fashionable to approach any unfamiliar tailor, who could make a garment for a few rupees, providing the perfect fit, finish and style. The high society lady, who wore it, was proud for getting a good bargain and for giving her name to the end result.

In 60s, tight ‘kurtas’, ‘churidars’ and high coiffures were a trend among ladies. It was an era full of naughtiness and celebration in arts and music and cinema, manifested by liberation from restriction and acceptance of new types of materials such as plastic film and coated polyester fabric.

The 70s witnessed an increase in the export of traditional materials outside the country as well as within. Hence, international fashion arrived in India much before the MTV culture with the bold colors, flower prints and bell-bottoms. Synthetics turned trendy and the disco culture affected the fashion scenario.

It was in the early 80s when the first fashion store ‘Ravissant’ opened in Mumbai. At that time garments were retailed for a four-figure price tag. The ’80s was the era of self consciousness and American designers like Calvin Klein became popular. In India too, silhouettes became more masculine and the ‘salwar kameez’ was designed with shoulder pads.

With the evolution of designer stores in Mumbai, the elegant fashion design culture was a trend among Indians along with their heavy price tags. No doubt that a garment with a heavy price tag was at the bottom stage of fashion. But clients immediately transformed into the high fashion fold where they were convinced that that the word ‘elegant fashion design culture’ means, it had to have a higher price tag.

Garments were sold at unbelievable prices only because the designers had decided to get themselves noticed by making showy outfits and getting associated with the right shows, celebrities and events.

Later, fashion shows shifted to competitive events each attempting to out-do the other in theme, guest list and media coverage. For any newcomer, the fashion business was the number one professional art that time.

In the 90’s, the last decade of the millennium, a move towards the drastic pairing down returned with ethnic wears (Today, ethnic wear market in India is accounted to Rs. 9000 crore). This led to the decline and the recession, the push to sell at any cost and keep staying in the limelight. With heavy cut throat competition and sound awareness of the client, the inevitable occurred. The price tags, which had once reached at a peak, began their downside journey.

At those times the downturn was not only being experienced in the price tags of the garments, but also in the business of fashion shows. More models, choreographers, make-up men, hairstylists and designers streamed down into their business.

The fun and party time in the Indian fashion scenario had not ended with this, but continued. It was a point, where it reached at a certain steady level and from there, in the beginning of the 21st centaury, with new designers and models and some sensible designing; the fashion hype accelerated its speed.

Indian fashion industry spreads its wings globally

For the global fashion industry, India is a very big exporter of fabrics and accessories. All over the world, Indian ethnic designs and materials are considered as a significant facet for the fashion houses and garment manufacturers. In fabrics, while sourcing for fashion wear, India also plays a vital role as one of the biggest players in the international fashion arena.

India’s strengths not only depend on its tradition, but also on its raw materials. World over, India is the third largest producer of cotton, the second largest producer of silk and the fifth largest producer of man-made fibres.

In the international market, the Indian garment and fabric industries have many fundamental aspects that are compliant, in terms of cost effectiveness to produce, raw material, quick adjustment for selling, and a wide ranges of preference in the designs in the garments like with sequin, beadwork, aari or chikkon embroidery etc, as well as cheaper skilled work force. India provides these fashion garments to the international fashion houses at competitive prices with shorter lead time and an effective monopoly in designs which covers elaborated hand embroidery – accepted world over.

India has always been considered as a default source in the embroidered garment segment, but the changes of rupee against dollar has further decreased the prices, thereby attracting buyers. So the international fashion houses walk away with customized stuff, and in the end crafted works are sold at very cheap rates.

As far as the market of fabrics is concerned, the ranges available in India can attract as well as confuse the buyer. A basic judgmental expectation in the choosing of fabrics is the present trend in the international market. Much of the production tasks take place in parts of the small town of Chapa in the Eastern state of Bihar, a name one would have never even heard of. Here fabric making is a family industry, the ranges and quality of raw silks churned out here belie the crude production methods and equipment used- tussars, matka silks, phaswas, you name it and they can design it. Surat in Gujarat, is the supplier of an amazing set of jacquards, moss crepes and georgette sheers – all fabrics utilized to make dazzling silhouettes demanded world over. Another Indian fabric design that has been specially designed for the fashion history is the “Madras check” originally utilized for the universal “Lungi” a simple lower body wrap worn in Southern India, this product has now traversed its way on to bandannas, blouses, home furnishings and almost any thing one can think of.

Recently many designers have started using traditional Indian fabrics, designs and cuts to enhance their fashion collections. Ethnic Indian designs with batik cravat, tie-and-dye or vegetable block print is ‘in’ not just in India but all across the world.

In India, folk embroidery is always associated with women. It is a way of their self expression, and they make designs that depict their native culture, their religion and their desires. Women embroider clothes for their personal use, and the people linked with the pastoral profession prepare embroidered animal decorations, decorative covers for horns and foreheads and the Rabaris of Kutch in Gujarat do some of the finest embroidery. Embroidered pieces are made during the festivals and marriages, which are appliqué work called ‘Dharaniya’. One of the significant styles of Saurashtra is ‘Heer’ embroidery, which has bold geometric designs, woven on silks. The Mutwa women of the Banni area of Kutch have a fascinating embroidery where they make fine embroidery works with designed motifs and mirrors in the size of pinheads, the Gracia jats use geometric designs on the yoke of long dresses. Moreover, the finest of quilts with appliqué work are also made in Kutch.

Garments embellishment with bead work is another area where it in demand in the international market. Beads are used to prepare garlands and other accessory items like belts and bags and these patterns now available for haute couture evening wear too.

According to a survey, in recent times Indian women have given up their traditional sari for western wears like t-shirts and shorts, as they feel more comfortable in skirts and trousers instead of saris and salwar kameez. It’s been noted that women spend just $165 million on trousers and skirts against 1.74 billion dollars spent by men on trousers. With more women coming out to work, the (combined) branded trouser and skirts market has been increasing at a whopping 27 per cent in sales terms. Women feel that Western clothing is more suitable, particularly when working or using public transportation. Many corporate offices are also in favor of their employees wearing Western wear.

In India, Western inspiration is increasing due to the influence of TV and films. Besides, shopping malls selling branded clothes have also mushroomed in India and are fascinating the youngsters. Recently, designer wear is being promoted through store chains such as Shopper’s Stop, Pantaloons, Westside, etc. Companies such as Raymond and TCNS have also set up their exclusive stores for designer wear such as Be: and W.

The market of India fashion industry

Recently, a report stated that the Indian fashion industry can increase from its net worth of Rs 200 crore to Rs 1,000 crore in the next five to ten years. Currently, the worldwide designer wear market is amounted at $35 billion, with a 9 per cent growth rate, with the Indian fashion industry creating hardly 0.1 per cent of the international industry’s net worth.

According to approximations, the total apparel market in India is calculated to be about Rs 20,000 crore. The branded apparel market’s size is nearly one fourth of this or Rs 5,000 crore. Designer wear, in turn, covers nearly about 0.2 per cent of the branded apparel market.

At present, the largest sales turnover within the designer wear segment is about Rs25 crore, with other well-known names having less turnovers of Rs10-15 crore. In view of the prospects of the Indian fashion industry for growth, the figures are not very hopeful.

The figure of fashion industry

o The organized market for designer apparel is about Rs 250 crore

o Designer wear calculates to less than 1 per cent of the apparel market

o The global market for designer wear is 5 per cent of total apparel market

o The global market for designer wear industry is largely dependent on the small-scale sector

o Consumers for designer wear have a yearly household income of Rs 10 lakh-plus. There are 3 lakh such households developing at 40-45 per cent

o Designer wear industry is projected to increase to Rs 1,000 crore by 2015.

o More than 81 per cent of the population below 45 years of the age is fashion conscious.

Many fashion designers and management experts foresee an average growth of about 10-12 per cent for the Indian fashion industry in the coming years. Though, the growth rate could be more than 15 per cent, if infrastructural and other logistical bottlenecks and drawbacks are over come.

India needs more effort to overcome

However, despite the benefits available in India there are also some disadvantages. India is not a remarkable player in the global market with reference to brands because of its inability to add value to products. This is observed by the fact that nearly 50 per cent of its exports are apparel and made-ups where value addition is essential. Likewise, 75 per cent of domestic apparel market is commoditized and unbranded and very few Indian brands do survive in the foreign markets. Evidently, the Indian market has not made a strong stand and hence it is difficult to make Indian brands that can compete with global brands in India.

Another reason for the fashion industry’s inadequate growth is the limited experience of the designers and the platform they are offered. The insignificance stalks from the reality that most of the young talent is hired by the bigger names to work in their studios, thus imprinting their work with the label of the big designers.

Though performing individual presentation is not an alternative choice for most of the young talent, because of the limitation of finance, a beginner designer’s name fails to come to the forefront.

Another thing, with regards to the ramp, is what the designers offer is barely appropriate to be worn ordinarily. You’ll see there’s dissimilarity between what is there on the ramp and what the Page Three crowd wears. Some believe at present the fashion is in, but the tendency hasn’t changed much as it is the old ones coming back. We have had short kurtas, long kurtas, flowing skirts, etc. coming back into fashion with only a new variety of designs.

Many management consultants and professionals believe that the Indian fashion industry will be boosted if the new comers are paid proper attention. What they require is more support so that their work gets due recognition. According to the consultants and professionals there should be a panel of people who choose designers for showcasing according to their work and not their name or who they’ve worked for earlier, and hence selection would be purely based on quality. Besides this, the panel of judges should comprise of people from the fashion schools rather than designers.

It has been observed that the media-hype around the big designers and blatant commercialism has hindered business in the Indian fashion industry. No clear cut picture is provided about the feasibility of the products. Basically it is only the famous names that are being talked of. What they offer is not quite daily-wear. The entire focal point of the industry is on commercialism. The discussion is only regarding how much is sold and for what price and nothing about the designs or styles.

Efforts to develop global fashion brands

It needs innovative designers, a seamless supply chain, control over retail and distribution and concentration of quality while dealing with some image. While a few have accomplished something in the west covering Tommy Hilfiger, Gucci, Zara, Armani, Versace, Ralph Lauren, etc, India has not been capable to track on.

A serious reason for India not being successful has been its isolation in the fashion system. Each stakeholder including designers, exporters, textile players and retail chains need to come together along with the government to make sure that the position of Indian fashion is strong in the coming years.

There are various agencies and industry associations that can support in brand-building practice. Many of these agencies require attractive resources and making a global image of Indian fashion rather than independently trying to promote particular brands or textile segments.

Efforts to create strong global image

Large textiles players require more and more to target on the market facing activities while developing an association with small medium enterprise (SME) clusters. Such kind of networks would be a benefit to that which can focus on demand making and branding as well as for clusters that can focus on quality production.

Efforts to create value networks

After the entry of large retail chains like Wal-Mart, Gap etc in India, Small scale manufacturers in India will find it very difficult to satisfy the demands of these international buyers if they continue to promote their products individually. Therefore, it is very important that value networks are created between large textile and apparel companies in India and small scale manufacturers, so that the marketing muscle of the leading players can be utilized for receiving large orders while the bigger players then assign the orders to the small-medium enterprises according to their past record of quality and service. For this to be put into practice, it will be vital to well-organize the information on small-medium enterprise clusters in a perfect manner so that supplier selection decisions are made according to the information in the long run, only the more efficient small-medium enterprise players survive and develop.

Efforts to concentrate on designers and designs

Designers have a fundamental role to play in the future of Indian fashion scenario. There should hence be an effective process for preparing these designers. This can be done by sponsoring exchange programs with international schools, increasing participations in the fashion capitals of the world, motivating and offering business incubation to new designers and rewarding efforts through proper design awards.

Even in India, well-known designers are incapable to tap finances from well-organized resources, since a vital part of their assets are brands and design talent which are not measured in terms of money and hence it becomes difficult to judge the value. This has severely inhibited their development and capability to raise retail existence across the country and abroad. Likewise, there is no systematic approach of existence in the fashion capitals of the world like Paris, Milan and New York. Due to this, designers have to depend on their personal contacts and relationships for organizing fashion shows and making retail alliances. The French government as well as the British government helps designers of their particular countries appreciably in these areas as they understand that value creation through design is the only way to carry on in the competitive landscape of the global fashion industry. The Indian government and related agencies should also accept this aspect of textile, apparel and fashion industry sincerely if they need to see India on the global fashion map.

Work in collaboration: designers-corporate efforts

Designers and many organizations can work globally through various models and with many working relationships. The Indian fashion industry has many views but only one such model, wherein a designer creates a retail venture with his/her own brand through organized retail chains. There are many other models according to brand ownership and division of operational activities.

Globally, many models of collaboration between designers and corporates are available. For example Ralph Lauren has made an agreement with Jones Apparel for producing and retailing various Polo brands. Likewise, Armani had an agreement with Zegna for production, even while it was competing with them in the marketplace. There are many cases of designer brands being co-owned by the designers and corporates, Gucci-Alexander McQueen and Gucci-Stella McCartney being some of them.

In the end, many designer businesses have been obtained by corporates where designers play a major role in the design elements of the business, but the brand and the organization is owned completely by the corporate.

The current possession of Calvin Klein by Philips Van Heusen and earlier holdings of Hugo Boss and Valentino by Marzotto are some related examples in this segment. These examples strongly point out that not only designers find such relationships important for development, but also corporates find these attractive for rising their profitability and growth. Likewise deals in India could go a long way in developing the brand values of corporates and designers.

Developing clusters

Making common infrastructure for functioning such as design and sampling, affluent treatment, product testing, etc can help in increasing the capability of the clusters since noteworthy investments could be made by the cluster itself rather than any single player.

Well-managed databases can help in decreasing search costs and through data mining, rating of players can be done so as to make the procurement process easier for buyers. Cooperative marketing programs at different clusters can also support players to grow up in the value chain by mixing their strengths within the cluster.

Cluster based battle in the fashion industry is characterized by the Italian industry. The National Chamber for Italian Fashion for example, supports the development of the fashion clusters at Milan and Florence in a well organized manner. Indian industry can learn a lot from Italy because India has a similar cluster based scattered production base, but has been incapable to link it with design and branding capability.

If the above activities are successfully considered, India could have an extraordinary development in the fashion industry, which could increase from a negligible size to Rs 8,000 crore in the coming decade.

Conclusion

In the 50s, 60s and 70s, the Indian fashion scenario was colorful and stylish, in the end of 20th century it was quite subdued and with the beginning of the 21st century it has geared up and is still experiencing the growth with many spectrums of colours. Though this industry is growing at a very good pace, besides achieving a negligible share in the global market, still it needs to make severe efforts to stand amongst international fashion market in various aspects.

Dyestuff Industry In India And China

World demand for dyes and organic pigments to touch $10.6 billion in 2008

According to a study on dyes & organic pigments, the worldwide demand for organic colourants (dyes and organic pigments) is projected to increase at $10.6 billion in 2008 form 4.9 per cent annually in 2003.

Generally, the dyestuff industry comprises three sub-segments, namely dyes, pigment and intermediates. The dye intermediates are petroleum downstream products which are further processed into finished dyes and pigments. These are important sources in major industries like textiles, plastics, paints, paper and printing inks, leather, packaging sector etc.

Leading players in dyes

Textile dyes have been used since the Bronze Age. They also constitute a prototype 21st-century specialty chemicals market. Three large manufacturers namely DyStar, Ciba Specialty Chemicals and Clariant are leaders in the dyes market. The biggest, DyStar, was established in a series of mergers of some of Europe’s leading textile dye businesses in the 1990s. Worldwide excess capacity and price burden, fueled by the immediate growth of Asian manufacturers, have shifted most dyestuff chemistries into commodities. Regulatory barriers have nearly stopped the progress of the opening of fundamentally new dyestuffs. Despite this DyStar, Ciba Specialty Chemicals and Clariant have grown over the past 10 years with innovative products and new chemistry is being set to endure reactive and dispersant dyes as well as in older dyestuffs such as sulfur dyes.

In 2001 the biggest individual company market shares in colourant production were DyStar (23%), Ciba (14%), Clariant (7%), Yorkshire Group (5%), Japanese (5%) and other traditional groups (3%)., and various dyestuff manufacturers comprise the largest group at 43%.

The only way to growth and to keep Asian bulk dyestuff manufacturers at bay, they say, comes straight out of specialty chemicals strategy to distinguish product offerings through collaborative work with customers and charge a premium price for particular products that gives a perfect solution. This is an effective method, provided that these suppliers produce in China, India, Pakistan, and Brazil as well as in the U.S. and Europe, and that most of the textile producers aim to maintain uniform quality and product performance across worldwide.

Europe is facing the problem of overcapacity of about 30 to 40 per cent in the market from Asia, especially China. But, experts believe, Asian manufacturers manufacture a limited number of low-cost, basic dyestuffs. Most of experts of this field believe that growth lies in innovation and differentiation. Though, of the 180,000-ton-per-year worldwide market for dispersed dyes, specialty dyes consist only about 5,000 tons.

DyStar is a major manufacturer of reactive dyes, which were developed 50 years ago at ICI. DyStar was recently purchased by Platinum Equity, is made up of the dyes business of the original ICI, as well as those of Bayer, BASF and Hoechst. DyStar has developed deep-shade dyes for polyesters. New chemistries are emerging for controlling staining from azo and anthraquinone dyes, including thiophene-based azo dyes. DyStar has also developed benzodifuranone dyes for heavy red shades. It modified azo dyes to keep up their performance when applied with the new detergents. The company also set up secrecy agreements with the leading detergent producers to test new detergent chemistry and do the required dye reformulation proactively. It has added the number of reactive groups in its fluoroaromatic Levafix CA reactive dyes. The company has also been functioning on strengthening the chromophore or color component of the dye for improved lightfastness.

Recently, DyStar has made new red dye for cellulosic fibers, Indanthren Deep Red C-FR Plus, is a new speciality dye for medium to heavy shades of red and Bordeaux, suitable for the coloration of cellulosics on continuous and yarn dyeing units as well as cellulosic/polyamide blends. DyStar Textilfarben GmbH has also introduced the classic cold pad batch dyeing process (cpb). Key developments in cold pad batch technology were started in 1957 and are still ongoing:

-Development of dosing pumps (Hoechst)

– Introduction of sodium silicate as a fixing alkali (Hoechst)

– Development of microwave and oven lab fixation method (Hoechst)

– Mathematical determination of pad liquor stability under practical conditions (Hoechst) —

Optidye CR (DyStar)

– Development of silicate free alkali systems (DyStar)

The dyestuffs industry of China

In the first half of 2005, China gained a growth of 4 per cent in dyes and 11 per cent in organic pigment output. A report stated that China’s demand for dyes and pigments is expected to increase at 12 per cent annually by 2008 and output of dyes and pigments will rise by 13 per cent annually by 2008.

According to statistics, in 2004, the production volume of dyeing stuffs and pigments in China reached 598,300 tons and 143,600 tons, an increment of 10.4 per cent and 13.3 per cent over that of the previous year. The total imports and exports of dyeing stuffs and pigments were projected to be 291,200 tons and 138,800 tons; an increase of 10.64 per cent and 16.15 per cent over the same time the previous year. Hence, China has developed to be a large manufacturer, consumer and dealer of dyeing materials, pigments and dyeing auxiliary.

China becomes top importer for Bangladesh

During July-September 2005 Bangladesh imported dyes and chemical (combined) worth 3.73 billion taka ($57.5 million) from China against 2.53 billion taka ($38.9 million) from India.

DyStar expands China facility

Recently DyStar has announced to invest around USD 55 million in a new textile dyes facility at Nanjing to extend its production base in China and step up its focus on this key growth market. Situated about 300 kilometres north-west of Shanghai, Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu Province, a key area for textile production. It will be DyStar’s third production unit in China, alongside Wuxi, where the production capacity was tripled last year, and Qingdao. This new production site will increase their growth in China. At the same time it will strengthen their international competitiveness and boost market leadership. This investment is a clear sign that DyStar is continuing to invest in its core business and will remain a reliable partner for the textile industry in the long term.

At the new production complex in Nanjing, DyStar will produce dyes for cellulosic and synthetic fibres. In-built flexibility will permit the manufacture of other dyes and extension of the infrastructure in line with requirements. That means DyStar will be able to respond quickly to the rising demand in China. The inauguration of the first plant is scheduled in the first half of 2006.

Indian dyestuff industry

In India the dyestuff industry supplies its majority of the production to the textile industry. Huge of amounts exports of dyes and pigments from India are also done to the textile industry in Europe, South East Asia and Taiwan.

Currently, the Indian dyestuff industry is completely self-dependable for producing the products locally. India presently manufactures all kinds of synthetic dyestuffs and intermediates and has its strong holds in the natural dyestuff market. India has come up as a global supplier of dyestuffs and dye intermediates, mainly for reactive, acid, vat and direct dyes. India has a share of approximately 6 per cent of the world production in dyestuff products.

Structure of dyestuff industry in India

The Indian dyestuff industry has been in existence since about 40 years, though a few MNCs established dyestuff units in the pre independence era. Like the other chemical industry, the dyestuff industry is also widely scattered. The industry is functioning by the co-existence of a few manufacturers in the organised sector (around 50 units) and a large number of small producers (around 1,000 units) in the unorganised sector.

The spreading of these units is slanted towards the western region (Maharashtra and Gujarat) accounting to 90 per cent. In fact, about 80 per cent of the total capacity is in the state of Gujarat, where there are about 750 units.

There has been a huge development in the dyestuff industry during the last decade. This has happened due to the Government’s concessions (excise and tax concessions) to small-scale units and export opportunities generated by the closure of several units in countries like the USA and Europe (due to the implementation of strict pollution control norms). The duty concessions provided to small-scale producers had given in the large ones becoming uncompetitive to some extent. Price competition was strong in the lower segments of the market. Liberalisation of the economy and large-scale reduction of duties have given the decrement of margins for smaller producers. Closing of many small-scale units in Gujarat due to environmental reasons has also helped the organised sector players to grow further.

Over six hundred varieties of dyes and organic pigments are now being produced in India (both by the organised and the unorganised sector). But the per-capita consumption of dyestuffs is less than the world average. Dyes are soluble and basically applied textile products. Pigments, on the other hand, are insoluble and are main sources of products such as paints.

During the past few years, the dyestuff industry was overwhelmed by a series of fast changing upshots in the international platform. The largest market for dyestuffs has been the textile industry. The hold of polyester and cotton in the global markets has positively created the demand for some kinds of dyestuffs. Furthermore, the demand for polyamides, acrylics, cellulose and wool has been close to stagnant. Discrepancy in the regional growth rates of textile products too influences demand. The Asian region has seen the highest development in textile production, followed by North America, Latin America and Western Europe. This shows the change in the global textile industry towards Asia. Subsequently, Asia offers dyestuff production both in terms of volumes and value, with about a 42 per cent share of the global production; the US is next with 24 per cent and Europe has around 22 per cent. Due to a wide use of polyester and cotton-based fabrics, there has been a change towards reactive dyes, applied in cotton-based fabrics, and disperses dyes used in polyester. These two dyes have been leading in all the three regional global market, particularly Asia. Moreover, the change in textile application pattern and regional developments is the amount of over capacity in the global dyestuff industry.

Within India, the leading producers in the pigments industry are Colour Chem and Sudarshan Chemicals while in the dyestuff industry the major players in terms of market share are Atul, Clariant India, Dystar, Ciba Specialities and IDI. The Indian companies together account for nearly 6 per cent of the world production.

Almost 80 per cent of the dyestuffs are commodities. Since not much technology is used, copying of products is also easy as compared to specialties. Though in the recent past, there have been efforts by global producers, with some achievement, to shift to the specialty end of the product profile. Vat dyes have always performed as specialty products, with technology working as a vital function. Now companies are focusing on the higher end of the reactive dyes segment. The inclination is now changing from supplying mere products to colour package solutions. More importance is given to innovation, production range, quality and environmental friendly products. Manufacturers are collaborating with equipment producers to offer integrated solutions rather than products.

Fiscal policies and modification in the application pattern of the global dyestuff industry have revolutionized the market shares of Indian companies. Excise concessions for the small-scale sector in the mid and the late 1980s generated many units in Maharashtra and Gujarat. At one point of time, there were in the unorganised sector nearly 1,000 units, with most of them situated in Gujarat and Maharashtra.

Though, since the early 1990s, there has been seen an ongoing decrement in the excise duty rates applicable to the organised sector. From 25 per cent in 1993-94, the excise duty rates were decreased to 20 per cent in 1994-95, and 18 per cent in 1997-98 and further decreased these rates to 16 per cent.

This continuing decrement in the duty rates smoothened the competitive edge of the unorganised sector. The organised sector, with high product range, technology and marketing reach was capable to raise its market share. But more noteworthy changes have gained through the German ban on many dyestuffs, enforced to the local pollution control laws. While the organised sector has been capable to regulating the manufacturing of dyes based on the 20 banned amines by the German legislation, many in the unorganised sector were moved out. This was amalgam by the local pollution laws, which need to establish the effluent treatment plants, and drive out companies in the unorganised sector.

The capacity and production of dyes and dye stuff was 54,000 MT and 26,000 MT respectively in the year 2003-04. The capacity and production of dyes and dye stuff was 54,000 MT and 26,000 MT correspondingly in the year 2003-04. The small scale units offer major share in dyestuff production while large units focus producing dyestuff intermediates.

Disperse and Reactive dyes represent the greatest product segments in the country covering about 45 per cent of dyestuff consumption. In the coming time, both these segments will lead the dyestuff market with disperse dyes possibly to have the greatest contribution followed by reactive dyes. These two segments will hold a greatest share in order to lead textile and synthetic fibers in dyestuff consumption. Vat segment is also projected to prove healthy growth in future.

Exports and Import of Dyestuffs

In the year 2004-2005 the exports of dyestuff industry has touched 1109 million US dollar. Exports of dyestuffs in the year 2000-01 reached to about Rs. 2365 crores and accounted to about 5 per cent of the total world trade of dyestuffs. The main markets for Indian dyestuffs are the European Union, U.S.A., Indonesia, Hong Kong, South Korea and Egypt. The following table provides data export and import of dyestuff during last few years.

Technology

The technology for dyestuff production changes largely from relatively simple (direct azo) to sophisticated (disperse and vat) dyes. Despite the fact that technology is locally available, most of it is out dated. The setback is further compounded by the fact that the nature of the process differs from batch to batch and, hence, managing the process parameters becomes complex.

The dyestuff industry is one of the largely polluting industries and this has lead to them closing down internationally or changing the units to the emerging economies. Majority of the international producers have shifted the technology to developing nations like China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. This shift of manufacturing capacities is because the industry is supposed to work as a high-cost and low return one. The batch processing also formulates it to a labour- intensive industry. Hence, the competitiveness of developing economies gets a boosts.

Though, in the past decade the Indian industry has made considerable development in terms of technology and production.

Restructuring

Restructuring of the Indian dyestuff industry which started a couple of years ago is still in progress. The movement was initiated by the market leader Colour-Chem Ltd. It has also come into a toll manufacturing agreement with Dystar India Ltd. There have been other arrangements, which would give improving capacity utilisation at manufacturing facilities and also to have better exposure of export markets.

Ciba India and IDI have signed a deal to market polyester and cellulose dyes. IDI has also started work with Ciba for the production and marketing of dyes and pigments. Atul products has received the acquisition of Zeneca’s 50 per cent stake in Atic Industries Ltd and started work with BAS, Germany to market 50 per cent of its manufacturing of vat dyes.

Valve and Cock Industry Dented by Slump

The ongoing economic deceleration and the resultant decline in industrial output have severely affected the valve and cock industry in Punjab. Domestic sales of SMEs in the sector have fallen by 25% to 30%, while the export growth has continued to take a plunge, falling by over 80%.

A steep decline in both domestic and overseas sales has dented the margins of nearly 300-350 valve and cock manufacturing units, mostly belonging to the SSI sector.

“Margins of small-scale cock and valve units have significantly eroded as demand in the international market has taken a big hit. Punjab valve exporters are also losing their competitive edge due to the cheaper products from China,” commented Pritam Sharma, CEO of Moudgil India, a small valve and cock manufacturing and exporting unit in Jalandhar and a member of Punjab Valves and Cocks Manufacturers Association.

Both India and China procure raw materials like brass and gun metal from European countries. However, China has an edge in the international market since it provides finished products at subsidised rates, while India’s products are 25% to 30% costlier.

The high custom duties and tax levies on Indian import of raw materials increase the input cost significantly, pegging them behind their competitors in the global market. In view of the worsening market scenario, industry associations are seeking special packages to bail out the small-scale units from the crisis.

“The valve and cock industry of Punjab needs tax concessions and special benefits so that it can maintain its competitive edge. The lowering of excise duty from 7%-8% to 4%-5% will help small units cope with the ongoing downturn,” commented Pran Nath Bhalla, President of All India Valves and Cocks Manufacturers Association.

A number of valve and cock units in Punjab are planning to set up units in the cluster recently approved by the Ministry of MSMEs in order to enhance their competitiveness.

Indian Carpet Industry and Its SWOT Analysis

Carpet Industry is one among the industries prevailing in India since centuries. Indian Carpet Industry has always been a crucial part of Indian export industry. Moguls brought and introduced carpet weaving in India which survived and flourished greatly. Over the period, ancient weavers has transformed into modern artist who imbibe the magical colours to the Indian carpets. These artists bring aesthetic touch to the carpets by doing magic with colours and provide carpets an unusual beauty and elegance. The study revealed that the total carpet exported last year was worth Rs 2600 crores whereas the size of the domestic market was condensed to about Rs 200 crores. Carpet holds a grace and recognition from over centuries. Earlier, only a few centers in India were involved in carpet weaving but slowly, various clusters have risen in northern part of India for the same purpose. Each center has its own competitive advantage. These centers employ nearly millions of people all across the country. Mojor belts of carpets include Bhadohi, Mirzapur and Agra belt in Uttar Pradesh, Jaipur, Bikaner in Rajasthan, Panipat belt in Haryana and Kashmir belt.

Carpets are broadly classified into two categories, traditional and modern. Otherwise, Indian manufacturers make carpets in various types, these are;

o Chainstich Rugs

o Tufted Woolen Carpets

o Hand-knotted Woolen Carpets

o GABBE Woolen Carpets

o Pure Silk Carpets

o Handmade Woolen Dhurries

o Staple or Synthetic Carpets

Each type has its own individuality in terms of design, look and the wool used in its manufacturing. The variety in carpets caters to various needs of customers.

The distinct variety added to the carpets is inclusion of silk and cotton which are innovatively mixing with the wool to give an attractive look to the carpets. Silk carpets are considered high quality pieces and are comparatively high in price. Indian carpets are fundamentally following the old popular patterns such as floral, rhomboids, animal patterns and arabesques in its designs. These traditional Oriental styles are preferred even today. However, Indian carpet industry seems to be highly influenced by western patterns and designs which are giving a competitive edge to Indian traditional carpets, such as Chinese patterns and Persian designs.

Swot Analysis of Carpet Industry

Indian Carpet Industry is a unique industry which is highly unorganized but lacks proper channels. Somehow, it has managed to perform impressively in the past years. The industry has made significant contribution in Indian exports till 1990s. What was there behind the industry that drives the export? SWOT analysis brings forth the value drivers and tentative blocks this industry has experienced and experiencing even today;

Strengths- Over the years, carpet industry has flourished in India due to availability of artistic skills, cheap labour and low cost raw material, innovations in selling carpets and flexibility in manufacturing all kinds of carpets.

Weaknesses- The industry’s greatest weakness is its highly being unorganized. The carpet exporters and manufacturers lack marketing channels. Indian suppliers suffer due to poor infrastructure and internal competition, and lack professional approach and Intellectual Property Rights.

Opportunities- Home furnishing market is moving towards Carpet industry, which results in evolution of new carpet designs. It is used as a marketing tool, and gives opportunity to provide stocking and warehousing services to various players in the market.

Threats- Industry is suffering a lot due to unhealthy competition exiting within it. If not handled properly, current rebound in the industry may not be sustainable. Social evil such as Child labor has strong bonding with the industry. Hence, the industry invites risk of possible backlash on itself.

Carpet Industry in India has experienced a major change in recent years. The industry is moving towards the emergence of new market and old existing market is saturated and lost its identity. Low-end carpets manufactured in modern designs like hand-tufted carpets are highly preferred by new customer base. Chinese industry is emerging as the biggest threat to Indian carpet industry, in terms of pricing and volumes. However, innovative products range with lower volume could be a success mantra for Indian Carpet Industry. Inefficient coordination and ill management are what exist predominantly in the industry. Apart from it, industry needs to consolidate on the activities such as quality standards, cost reduction, better development of products and their on-time delivery to drive its growth.

Future Of Blockchain Teclnology In Insurance Industry – Blockchainerz

What is Insurance?

Insurance is a method for security from money related loss. It is a type of risk management, principally used to support against the danger of an unexpected misfortune.

An Insuree may report a misfortune or a claim to a broker, and with the required data submits it to the Insuring specialists, specifically the Insurer, if applicable, the Reinsurer. The claim accommodation is confirmed by a receipt to the Insuree.

From that point onward, the Claims Agent may ask for extra data for the claim, through an outer source. After these step, if every one of the conditions is fulfilled, the claim is affirmed, and the installment is started via the Insurer’s Claim Agent. Insurance is revealed to a variety of fraud schemes. From sharing insurance plan after divorce to disguising medicinal diagnoses. Then how blockchain helps in this field?

Blockchain technology future is viewed as the greatest of an image of the fourth industrial revolution and a potential disruptor for some organizations and businesses including the insurance field. Even the technology is still in its an early phase, it has just demonstrated what it can do: streamline printed material, increment information security and spare organizations cost by removing tedious cases forms.

Recap On Blockchain Technology:

The blockchain is an extensive, decentralized advanced record that is dependably up to date and holds a record of the considerable number of exchanges made. Blockchain systems are intended to record anything from physical resources for electronic money and are openly accessible for all the included gatherings to see.
After check process, the block of a transaction is time-stamped and added to the blockchain network in a straight sequential request. The additional block is then connected to previous blocks, making a chain of blocks with data of each transaction made ever in the history of that blockchain.

How Blockchain Technology Can Benefit The Insurance Industry:

Blockchain was acquainted with the majority through Bitcoin, however, its applications go past simply recording of electronic cash. It can likewise empower inventive and troublesome changes in different industries other than finance, for example, insurance business model. Other than recording electronic cash and financial transactions, this technology can became part of insurance, healthcare project.

An insurance company mainly manages various procedures consistently that includes an insurance contract to be signed. The processes can be anything from getting an insurance policy, rating a customer, claiming or managing a fraudulent policy.
Since blockchain technology deals with smart contracts then, specialists from insurance industry claim this technology can possibly change the way insurers deal with customers. Insurance industry depends on lots of data much like various industries, blockchain may well end up empowering all or most data-related transactions for this industry through smart contract.
In this, the smart contract can encourage, execute, and enforce the negotiation or application of an insurance contract through blockchain tehcnology. Insurance contracts are unpredictable and hard understand, so the smart contract can empower productivity in the insurance esteem chain wherever time, exertion or money is spent to affirm information before preparing transactions.

Key Points Of Blockchain Which Impacts On Insurance Industry:

1. Improve trust:

There’s an emergency of trust in the financial services industry. Despite the fact that the big banks are the main point, the disintegration of trust impacts all businesses. An absence of trust, high expenses and inefficiency of the insurance business all plays a part in the extraordinarily high levels of underinsurance. Blockchain technology encourages building trust of customers since it gives straightforwardness and transparency.

2. Enhance efficiencies:

While changing insurance agencies or healthcare suppliers knows how wasteful the information section process is to get coverage or care started. Moreover, customers have an undeniable dread of losing control over their own information. Blockchain gives an answer for drive efficiency and security that would enable the individual information to be controlled by an individual while confirmation is enrolled on the blockchain.

3. Enhanced claimsprocessing through smart contracts:

The insured and the insurer each as of now have issues that blockchain and smart contracts could resolve. Insured people commonly discover insurance contracts long and mystifying, while the insurance agencies are battling a various fraud which is extraordinary. Through blockchain and smart contracts, both of them would profit by overseeing claims in a responsive and transparent way. And it begins with recording and confirming contracts on the blockchain. At the point when a claim is submitted, the blockchain could guarantee that only substantialor valid lone cases are paid. But when network founds multiple cases are cliams submitted from same accident then blockchain could trigger installment of the claim with no human mediation, thus its improves speed of resolution for claims.

4. Fraud detection and prevention:

A standout amongst the most convincing reasons insurance agencies ought to research blockchain is its capability to detect & prevent fake or illegal activity. An expected 5 to 10 percent of all cases are fraud. Blockchain technology’s decentralized store and it’s historical record which can autonomously check clients, policies, and transactions for authenticity. Each insurance agency needs to make a move today to make sense of how blockchain innovation can affect the way they work together today and later on.

This is the manner by which blockchain technology will help or takes a part in an insurance industry in future. In the event that you need to refresh to concepts or want to read latest news related to Blockchain & Cryptocurrency Technology at that point remain associated with us.

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Indian Credit Card Industry – On the Path of Unbound Growth

Soon you won’t have to carry your plastic money for your payment purposes as your mobile number will act as the credit card number. Recently, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in its annual policy statement informed that it was in the process of formulating the guidelines for a payment system using mobile phones. RBI is discussing with both public and private sector Banks, service providers and industry bodies to develop the payment system. RBI said the draft guidelines would be placed on its official website by June 15, 2008.

In India the usage of mobile is growing rapidly. There are about 250 million mobile phone connections in the country, whereas credit card holders are far lower as compared to number of mobile phone users. Hence, mobile for payments is being considered for quite some time as a progressive step forward.

As reported by The Times of India, RBI said in the policy statement “The rapid expansion of this mode of communication and transaction have thrown up a new delivery channel for banks.” RBI further states, “This channel will definitely facilitate small value payments to merchants, utility service providers and the likes and money transferred at a low cost.”

The credit card market is going to witness some more progressive changes in this year. A joint venture between Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) and GE Money is likely to launch its first product by the end of 2008. As reported by Business Standard, the venture is now on cards. But we have sorted out those issues (conflict of interest). Currently, we are looking at human resources-related issues. The two financial giants are planning to launch the card by the end of the calendar year.

Once the credit card is launched it would be offered only to LIC customers and policy holders in the first year. GE Money has a 30 per cent stake in the card venture, while LIC Housing Finance Company, LIC Mutual Fund and Corporation Bank have 5 per cent each in this venture. LIC will have 40 per cent in the company, which is capitalized at near about Rs.150 crore. LIC is yet to take a decision about the remaining 15 per cent stake of the total investment. In another positive development, ABN AMRO with India’s travel portal MakeMyTrip.com launched a distinctive co-branded credit card, ‘Go Card’ recently. The card offers special reward benefits and good range of travel-related promotions and packages.

Need For B2B Portal For Printing And Packaging Industry

Printing Industry at a Glance

Printing is one of the oldest industries of the world. Since industrial evolution it had been among the top ranked industries for export and import. With Industrial evolution there was huge revolution in the way printing happened across the world. If one takes a look it had evolved from primitive printing ways to now digital printing way. Printing caters to number of other industries eg: packaging, textile, media being few of them. In today’s world of packed and ready made products packaging industry is one of the most voluminous sectors along with Media and Textile. With ever evolving science and technology, printing machinery has reached perfection and is still improving. And hence there is a huge community of manufacturers, dealers, buyers and sellers across the world that are constantly looking at new innovations in machinery and adopting themselves accordingly. Apart from the main machinery industry, printing industry serves as market place for many other supply products. There is huge requirement of various types of Inks, printing base material, dyes, etc. These supportive industries are huge in them and are part of one major printing industry.

Traditional Business places

As all other sectors, printing industry is also an evolving industry. It has evolved to a stage where suppliers, dealers, manufacturers have good presence on internet. But still the main source of community building comes from Exhibitions. Printing industry caters to huge and high budget exhibitions. There are number of international and national exhibitions all over the world. This is one industry that pioneers the export and import trends making world a real small village open to trading anywhere and everywhere.

Internet presence and its impact on Printing as a business community

This being one of the primitive industries, hence this community has strong adherence to traditional ways of exhibiting but at the same time it has adopted the growing web impact with equal vigor. There is very strong individual presence of all stake holders on web, most common way being a website, still its surprising that there was not a single community platform over web. The only known name in such community is amvtrade.com, which gives a platform to all the stake holders distributed across the world to come face to face in an most friendly and easy way.

B2B portal

B2B portal for this sector provides a platform for printing machine manufactures dealers, suppliers and others who are involved in import and export of related commodities. Such a platform is today’s necessity to make world a small trading place. Various benefits of this kind of platform are as:

It gives worldwide exliosure to small lilayer.
It’s much economical tool to be visible globally.
Exhibitions have limitations of lilace and time where as liarticiliating in 24X7 online exhibition is much easier without hassles of travelling to far of lilaces.
It offers better bargains to buyers as on one click lirices and availabilities can be checked across the world.
Brand liromotion has far better results if online liromotions on B2B liortal are used.

Its time this industry takes a leap in the sky of international trading and becomes one of the most innovative industries by its ways of trading. B2B portal is the answer. Good luck for your next printing machine deals.

The Indian Film Industry

Indian films began in 1896 when an agent from France brought his movie equipment and showed moving pictures in Bombay. That was an important point in Indian history and the start of the development of the Indian film industry.

The first film made in India was released in 1913 by Dadasaheb Phalke. The film’s title was Raja Harishchandra. It was a mythological film that has since been produced several times.

There are now different types of film industries in India categorized by their regions. These are: Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Kannada, Marathi, Malayalam, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Gujarati, Oriya, Punjabi and Assamese films.

The first Indian film shown in India was the movie Alam Ara which was released in 1931. It was also the first movie that had sound effects; the movie was called a “talkie” because it was the first time the actors were heard talking in a film. This was again the beginning of a new era for the Indian film industry.

During the 1930s and 1940s Indian films began to have a modern outlook and adopted the emerging societal ideas and practices of the decade. Film makers added major innovations to their films. In 1935, the movie Devdas was released. It wasan important film of the decade. The film was directed by Pramathesh Barua. The movie was based on a love tale and presented the distinction between femininity and masculinity.

The world-famous Bollywood was a Hindi film industry that started in the 1970s. It is inspired by the American film industry’s Hollywood. Bollywood is now one of the leading film industries in the world which has released many movies and introduced popular actors and actresses.

The Golden Age of the Indian film industry began in the 1940s. Some of the best films were produced during this decade until the 1960s. The films Pyaasa and Kaagaz ke Phool were two of the movies produced during the Golden Age.

In the 1950s, the Parallel Cinema movement began, led by the Bengalis. Some of the movies produced during this era were Neecha Nagar and Two Acres of Land.

The Indian modern cinema was introduced in the 1960s. It was when romance movies and action films became popular in the Indian film industry. During the mid-1970s until the 1990s, Indian cinema began producing films about bandits and gangsters.

The Indian film industry continues to produce and release movies that reach the world beyond Bollywood. Indian film producers are known to make lengthy movies, with some films lasting three hours or more.