Ready-made garments account for approximately 45% of India's total textile exports. They represent value added and less import sub sector. India's thrust into ready made garment production started in the early 80s in the wake of the liberalization, received a big impetus during economic reforms in the early 90's and during the last two decades, has moved to the Tenth position, in the World's export of ready made garments.

Ready made garments are India' s leading export products and achieved rapid growth in the late 1980s and the first half of the 1990s. However, India' s share of world ready made garments exports has not risen since 1994. The immediate cause is apparently the slowdown in the import growth of India' s major markets, namely, the United States and the EU.

The export of ready made garments, which was to the tune of 253.6 million pieces, valued at US$ 826.5 million during January-February 2002 has increase in quantitative terms to 306.1 million pieces, valued at US$ 1137.9 million, up by 20.07% in quantity and by 37.68% in value terms, during January-February 2003, when compared with the same period last year.

The USA, EU Member States, U.A.E., Japan, Saudi Arabia, Canada, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Australia have been the major importing countries of our Indian ready-made garments. In India, Ludhiana, Tirupur, Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai and Chennai are all remarkably unique and dynamic centers of production.

India is at present a niche player in the low-value market segment based on cotton fabrics and for seasonal and fashion garments. This reflects India's comparative advantage in cotton cloth and its flexibility advantage in meeting small orders. With the targets of enhancing quality, establishing new market niches, and moving up the value chain, the strategy should be concentrated on the restructuring of the production base