Voting by ELECTRONIC VOTING SYSTEM (EVS) has begun today for Executive Committee (EC) of Apparel Export Promotion Council (AEPC) and excitement can be easily noticed among voters (member exporters of AEPC). It is not only EVS that has created excitement, in Northern Region, contesting for the first time ever, Rajiv Kapoor is also a point of discussion among exporters.
On the other hand, panel of Virender Uppal, outgoing Chairman, AEPC and MD of Richa Global is working hard for the elections as it seems like a prestige issue for them. Few days ago, a meeting was called in Jaipur by GEAR (Garment Exporters Association of Rajasthan) and it conveyed to support Uppal and his panel for the ‘sake’ of welfare of the industry. Local offices of AEPC in all major apparel export hubs are now more active. Delhi-NCR alone have the maximum number of member exporters (296).
“Isn’t is beginning of change in AEPC…? Rajiv is representing small exporters and in fact he is a medium-level exporter, at least he took an initiative to come forward, to fight. It will have a positive impact in the long run,” says Mohan Agnani, Director of JETEX, Jaipur who is also a member exporter.
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One of the Noida-based exporters expresses on the condition of anonymity, “Our friends are asking what Rajiv Kapoor has done for fellow exporters…? In fact some of them are now getting to know that efforts behind forcing AEPC to go for EVS have been laid by Rajiv and his Apparel House Exporters Association. We exporters may or may not vote for Rajiv but truly appreciate both the initiatives; be it EVS or new candidate. Those who are not happy with the existing system or activities of AEPC, will vote for Rajiv without considering whether he will win or not.”
The thing which may go against Rajiv is that he is not very well-known in the industry, especially out of Delhi-NCR. Although he has approached many member exporters strongly for voting in his favour.
Raja M. Shanmugham, MD, Warsaw International, Tirupur blames AEPC that it has not spread proper information related to elections and all this exercise is a mockery of democracy in AEPC selection. “Wrong leadership of associations like AEPC, TEA are hampering growth of small exporters which are the back bone of the Indian apparel export industry,” informs Raja to Apparel Resources.
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Lalit Thukral, MD, Maharana of India, Noida and President, Noida Apparel Export Cluster told Apparel Resources, “Yes, this time there is much more excitement but it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, after all we are an export fraternity with common goal-growth of Indian apparel exports.” Whereas voting by EVS is concerned, Lalit claims that they have made enough efforts for the awareness among Noida-based exporters.
There are four candidates in the race – Virender Uppal; Harish Ahuja of Shahi Exports, Pritam Goyal, MD, Lyra industries; and first ever contesting candidate Rajiv Kapoor, Affordable Exports. Out of these four three have to be elected.
