Arlington, VA – The American Apparel & Footwear Association (AAFA) today welcomed remarks by President Barack Obama during his State of the Union Address outlining his goals to continue rebuilding the U.S. economy, promoting U.S. competitiveness around the world, and creating jobs.

“I applaud President Obama’s laudable goals to grow our economy and enhance our ability to compete in the global marketplace,” said AAFA President and CEO Kevin M. Burke. “I am encouraged by the President’s effort to complete the long-awaited free trade agreement between the United States and South Korea. U.S. apparel and footwear industry workers and hardworking American families stand to benefit from these meaningful market opening agreements, not just with the Korea agreement, but also with the pending free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama.”

“As President Obama noted, it is clear that innovation and success are directly linked,” Burke said. “That is why we need to ensure that regulations aimed at keeping consumers safe do not strangle the innovative and creative spirit. We look forward to working with the Obama Administration, congressional leaders, and the agencies as we begin to review regulations that threaten our economy and provide no meaningful benefit to American families.”

Source: https://www.apparelandfootwear.org/UserFiles/File/PressReleases/2011/012511aafaapplaudsthemesofstateoftheunionaddress.pdf

The Jewellery Show at Spring Fair International will see over 600 leading companies from the UK and overseas launching their finest collections of precious and semi-precious jewellery, gold and silver, as well as jewellery related products, tools and equipment, shop fitting and display.

In today’s market it’s increasingly important to gain that competitive edge. That means planning your buying and spending time to source the newest products before your competitors do.

Source: http://www.bja.org.uk/e.php?event=225

We are proud to introduce Fairtrade International (FLO) and a new brand new appearance. As of January 21, the online presence, name and logos of FLO have all undergone changes that better express what Fairtrade is all about; people first.

The new abbreviated name, ‘Fairtrade International’, is a reflection of our vision to simplify the system and extend the benefits of Fairtrade to a greater number of farmers and workers, traders and consumers.

“I’m so pleased to see the values of Fairtrade – action, integrity, respect, challenge and optimism – reflected in what you see online and in publications,” said Rob Cameron, Chief Executive Officer at Fairtrade International.

“Fairtrade International puts a human face to global trade and this is now proudly expressed in our brand.”

Source: http://www.fairtrade.net/single_view1.0.html?&cHash=7ad5f00bf1&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=182

A boost in engineering construction helped slow the rate of contraction in the national construction industry in December according to the latest Australian Industry Group Australian Performance of Construction Index (Australian PCI®) in conjunction with the Housing Industry Association. While lifting 1.6 points to 43.8, the seasonally adjusted index remained below 50 indicating a contraction in activity.

Stronger demand from the resources sector helped the engineering construction sub-sector expand for the first time in six months. It was the only major sub-sector to record growth in December with new orders and deliveries across construction falling at a faster rate. Poor weather conditions and diminishing work from school building projects stifled activity.

Australian Industry Group Director Public Policy, Dr Peter Burn, said: “Despite a lift in engineering construction and reduced declines in activity in the residential and commercial construction sub-sectors, overall the construction industry was weaker to end a disappointing second half of 2010.

“The slower pace of decline in December is dampened by reports that new orders continue to fall in all four sub-sectors. Businesses and home buyers continue to refrain from committing to new projects with expectations of further rises in interest rates a likely factor.

“The sluggish performance over the second half of the year would have been considerably worse in the absence of the continuing public sector stimulus of activity in the industry. The industry is looking for a lift in private sector projects in the New Year to offset the ongoing withdrawal of that stimulus,” Dr Burn said.

Housing Industry Association Senior Economist, Andrew Harvey, said: “Although the pace of decline has moderated, house building activity fell for a seventh consecutive month. With further falls in new orders for houses and apartments, this month’s Australian PCI® report is one more piece of evidence that we are heading into a much weaker period for residential building.

Source: http://www.aigroup.com.au/

The membership and direction of the Federal Government’s new Food Processing Industry Strategy Group has been welcomed by the Australian Food and Grocery Council (AFGC) today (25 January).

Announced by Industry Minister Kim Carr at AFGC’s annual leaders’ forum last October, the strategy group – which industry has been calling for over the past two years – will focus on ensuring that Australia’s food and grocery manufacturing sector continues to attract investment and build new capabilities.

The group – involving several senior industry leaders as well as representatives from academia and trade unions – will first meet on February 14 with a further five meetings planned over the next 18 months.

Source: http://www.afgc.org.au/media-releases/531-food-industry-strategy-group-a-recipe-for-success.html

Red Energy, a growing energy retailer, is offering a fantastic deal to Victorian and New South Wales residential and home based business customers who switch their energy account online to Red.

Customers currently not with Red Energy can sign up online on the ‘Online Energy Saver’ and receive a $100 Coles Group & Myer Gift Card and also receive great Pay on TimeTM discounts on their energy bills.

Red Energy is proud to be the first energy provider associated with the Australian Made, Australian Grown (AMAG) Campaign. It is completely owned by Snowy Hydro and employs over 300 people at its Melbourne headquarters, supplying gas and electricity in Victoria and electricity in NSW.

Source: http://www.australianmade.com.au/switch-online-to-red-energy/

New Delhi - AEPC chairman Premal Udani has written to senior government officials about garment export cargo as well as inputs for import cargo meant for export production being held-up at Delhi airport.

The pileup since last week of November is primarily because of upgradation of some computer systems. Although the custom authorities have taken interim steps like manual processing of shipping bills, it is slow and there is congestion of the consignments.

Individual garment exporters, garment associations and freight forwarders have represented to the AEPC that shipments are taking four to five days for clearance. The situation on the import front is taking even longer, said Mr Udani in letters to revenue secretary Sunil Mitra, chairman of the Central Board of Excise and Customs S.D. Majumder and member customs S.K. Goel.

Source:http://www.aepcindia.com/news.asp?id=431&yr=2010

To avoid possible turbulence and maintain the deadline of 2011 for introduction of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS), ASSOCHAM has suggested its implementation on the lines it was done in the European Union.

The Chamber in a Statement said, in the European countries, stand alone accounts of individual holding companies and subsidiaries were continued for Regulatory and Tax purposes and only Consolidated Financial Statements were prepared in accordance with IFRS. This option followed by European Union was accepted as adequate for claiming that European Union has converged with IFRS.

The Chamber further said, the official version of Indian Standards converged to IFRS has already been delayed and, therefore, Mindset to appreciate Fair Value accounting has not been developed in Industry and Investors in view of illiquid markets, volatility of Fair Value, inadeqate skillset on ascertaining Fair Value and doubts regarding unbiased valuation and also there is no clarity on taxation of IFRS based accounts.

Source: http://www.assocham.org/prels/shownews.php?id=2732

The results of the elections for the ICA President, First and Second Vice President and Directors have been announced at the Association’s Annual General Meeting, held today on 9 December in Liverpool, UK.
Mr Ray Butler (Chairman & Managing Director, The Outlook Group Limited) takes on the role of President. Ray will be supported by Mr Antonio Esteve (CEO, Ecom Cotton Group) as First Vice President and Mr Ahmed Elbosaty (Chairman & Managing Director, Modern Nile Cotton Company) as Second Vice President.

New to the ICA board are Mr Bob Carter (Plexus Cotton Ltd), Mr Jürg Reinhart (Paul Reinhart AG), who have been elected to serve as Ordinary Directors and Mr Mohit Shah (Gill & Co), who will represent the common interests of the Indian cotton industry.

Now consisting of 21 members, representing 14 countries, the new board line-up represents the Association’s global membership and continues to build on the ICA’s international credentials to engage the entire cotton community.

On accepting the role of president at his inaugural speech, Ray explained: “During the next few months, the task for the Association, its directors and members, will doubtless be challenging, given the recent record level of prices and the tremendous volatility that has characterised the market.

Source: http://www.ica-ltd.org/news/ica-elects-new-board-at-agm

The Jute industry occupies an important place in the national economy of India. It is one of the major industries in the eastern region, particularly in West Bengal. Jute, the golden fibre, meets all the standards for ‘safe packaging in view of being a natural, renewable, biodegradable and econ-friendly product. It is estimated that that the jute industry provides direct employment to 0.37 million workers in organized mills and in diversified units including tertiary sector and allied activities and support the livelihood of around 4.0 million farm families.

In addition, there are a large number of persons engaged in the trade of jute. In the world perspective, India is the major producer of both raw jute and jute products. Out of the total world production of Jute, Kenaf and allied fibre of 3.0 million tonnes in 2007-08, India produced 1.8 million tonnes. In percentage terms, India accounted for 60 per cent of the world production in 2007-08. Global production of jute and allied fibres is estimated to have increased by 25 per cent to 3.0 million tonnes in 2007-08 compared to 2004-05 season. Production in India has also increased by 28 per cent to 1.8 million tonnes in 2007-09 over 2004-05.

There are 79 composite jute mills in India. Out of the total 79 jute mills, 62 jute mills are located in West Bengal, 3 each in Bihar and U.P., 7 in Andhra Pradesh and one each in Assam, Orissa, Tripura and Chattisgarh.

Source:http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=69236&kwd=