The Hindu 30.04.2010
Brandix Apparel City ready for inauguration
Santosh Patnaik
The apparel city is developed with world-class facilities on 1,000 acres
It has 749 acres of processing zone and 251 acres of non-processing zone
VISAKHAPATNAM: The person who is responsible for bringing the Sri Lankan multinational Brandix to this part of the State will finally dedicate the project to the nation on May 3. Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, who in his capacity as the Finance Minister visited Sri Lanka to convince the apparel major on the need to invest in Visakhapatnam, will inaugurate the Brandix India Apparel City (BIAC) at Achyutapuram in the presence of Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi.
BIAC is a unique apparel supply chain city managed by Brandix India Limited. The apparel city is developed with world-class facilities on 1,000 acres on the concept of `Fibre-to-store' concept.
It has 749 acres of processing zone and 251 acres of non-processing zone. In the first phase, it has in-built water and effluent treatment facilities. The commercial operations as of now have yielded encouraging response, sources said
It has been given the status of Special Economic Zone. The land was allotted at Re. 1 per acre per year lease keeping in view the promoters' commitment to provide 60,000 jobs. The promoters, who suffered the onslaught of global meltdown and its fallout on overseas garment market is showing signs of recovery. Sources told The Hindu that it would post an impressive turnover in coming years fulfilling its commitment on creating job opportunities to the local youth mainly women.
By bringing together internationally renowned apparel chain partners from design to consumer brands in flawless integration, the promoters want to put Visakhapatnam in the apparel market of the world. Fibre-to-store concept envisages bringing together all the verticals of apparel manufacturing at close proximity in the value chain. Fibre-to-store concept and the planned placement of each operating unit is expected to ensure true verticality.
BIAC plans to have 20 apparel factories, two fabric mills, eight accessories factories, a logistics warehouse and a finishing plant at its complete stage with an overall investment of $ 1.2 billion to provide jobs for 60,000 once it becomes fully operational.
