Latest news with #MMF
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Winnipeg war monument slated for move to Field of Honour, despite social media fears
A war monument that graced Winnipeg's Portage and Main intersection for a century is expected to once again be prominently displayed in the fall, despite a recent uproar on social media suggesting the statue was being discarded. The Manitoba Métis Federation says the statue is scheduled to be moved this fall to the Field of Honour in Brookside Cemetery, which was created for the internment of veterans returning from the war. The monument, which depicts the figure of a Canadian First World War soldier, had stood outside the former Bank of Montreal building at Portage and Main since 1923. It was removed to make way for construction work so the intersection could be reopened to pedestrians in June. The statue's relocation was announced last year, but some people on social media wondered if the plan was scrapped after a photo circulated this week that seemingly shows the statue in an outdoor property beside other debris. However, MMF says the statue is being kept in a storage facility yard, not a junkyard. The federation explained that, based on the angle of the photo, the overgrowth and rusted items that are seemingly beside the statue aren't in the same yard. "Due to the size and weight of the monument and based on the expert guidance we were given, we agreed to have it stored outdoors, wrapped in protective coverings. We understand that it was recently and temporarily unwrapped while the storage facility made some adjustments to its yard," MMF spokesperson Kat Patenaude said in a statement. She added MMF "fully intends" to follow through on its commitment to relocate the statue to the cemetery. Public ceremony planned That's scheduled for the fall, "pending the finalization of the donation agreement with the City of Winnipeg," Patenaude said. She said a public ceremony will be held. MMF acquired the statue when it bought the former Bank of Montreal building on the southeast corner of Portage and Main in 2020. The monument honours the 231 Bank of Montreal employees across Canada who died in the war. Last year, a city report said MMF agreed to give the statue to the city as a gift, including covering the costs of relocation. The property and development committee voted unanimously in favour of moving the monument, which will now belong to the city.
CBC
10 hours ago
- Business
- CBC
Winnipeg war monument slated for move to Field of Honour, despite social media fears
A war monument that graced Winnipeg's Portage and Main intersection for a century is expected to once again be prominently displayed in the fall, despite a recent uproar on social media suggesting the statue was being discarded. The Manitoba Métis Federation says the statue is scheduled to be moved this fall to the Field of Honour in Brookside Cemetery, which was created for the internment of veterans returning from the war. The monument, which depicts the figure of a Canadian First World War soldier, had stood outside the former Bank of Montreal building at Portage and Main since 1923. It was removed to make way for construction work so the intersection could be reopened to pedestrians in June. The statue's relocation was announced last year, but some people on social media wondered if the plan was scrapped after a photo circulated this week that seemingly shows the statue in an outdoor property beside other debris. However, MMF says the statue is being kept in a storage facility yard, not a junkyard. The federation explained that, based on the angle of the photo, the overgrowth and rusted items that are seemingly beside the statue aren't in the same yard. "Due to the size and weight of the monument and based on the expert guidance we were given, we agreed to have it stored outdoors, wrapped in protective coverings. We understand that it was recently and temporarily unwrapped while the storage facility made some adjustments to its yard," MMF spokesperson Kat Patenaude said in a statement. She added MMF "fully intends" to follow through on its commitment to relocate the statue to the cemetery. Public ceremony planned That's scheduled for the fall, "pending the finalization of the donation agreement with the City of Winnipeg," Patenaude said. She said a public ceremony will be held. MMF acquired the statue when it bought the former Bank of Montreal building on the southeast corner of Portage and Main in 2020. The monument honours the 231 Bank of Montreal employees across Canada who died in the war. Last year, a city report said MMF agreed to give the statue to the city as a gift, including covering the costs of relocation. The property and development committee voted unanimously in favour of moving the monument, which will now belong to the city.
Economic Times
a day ago
- Business
- Economic Times
Threading new ties: Surat and Tiruppur explore collaboration to boost India's MMF trade
Synopsis The collaboration will entail Tiruppur exporters setting up a few units in Surat to gain first-hand experience in MMF garment production, while Surat exporters will have the opportunity to learn the nuances of the export culture from Tiruppur. Surat is recognised as India's leading MMF manufacturing hub, while Tiruppur is widely known as the knitwear capital of the country. As geopolitical tensions and US tariffs affect the global supply chain, businesses across the world are looking at new strategies to navigate the disruptions in trade. Against this backdrop, industry associations from Tiruppur and Surat, two major textile clusters in India, are currently engaged in talks to explore mutual synergies that could enhance the man-made fibre (MMF) trade from the clusters are renowned for their expertise in distinct segments of the textile trade. Surat is recognised as India's leading MMF manufacturing hub, while Tiruppur is widely known as the knitwear capital of the country. Members from the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) in Surat are expected to visit Tiruppur between August and September this year to have a concrete discussion with the Tiruppur Exporters' Association (TEA) to deliberate further on the matter. 'It has been initiated, and the agenda of the MoU will be discussed during our visit,' said Ashish Gujarati, former president of SGCCI, in a conversation with ET Digital in Surat. 'We are hopeful of signing an agreement a few months after that,' he collaboration will entail Tiruppur exporters setting up a few units in Surat to gain first-hand experience in MMF garment production, while Surat exporters will have the opportunity to learn the nuances of the export culture from sources MMF fabric for the domestic market from Surat. Surat, conversely, has yet to establish its competence in export manufacturing. Register here for the Chandigarh summit on August 7According to Gujarati, such a collaboration can benefit the textile industry in India, not just for the clusters involved. 'It will benefit textile trade overall, not just for Tiruppur or Surat. It can be a 100% win-win; we have investors ready to collaborate with Tiruppur on this initiative,' he Duraiswamy, Joint Secretary of TEA, confirmed that discussions are in progress, noting that Tiruppur can support Surat in identifying markets, understanding buyer standards, and determining fabric requirements to meet international standards, among other aspects. 'These are nuances on which we can educate them. As far as we are concerned, we procure fabric for domestic manufacturing from Surat. It is about complementing each other; such mutual complementarity will benefit both sides,' he expects MMF exports to go up by 20-25% in the next few years if such collaborations pick up momentum. Currently, China leads in MMF production, with an estimated global market share of 72%. India is the second-largest producer, with MMF contributing 17% of India's total textile exports. Experts in the industry indicate that a collaboration between Surat and Tiruppur could lead to significant growth in the MMF sector nationwide. 'By improving product quality and variety, India can increase its share and reach a target of $100+ billion in exports and global MMF trade, currently dominated by China. Each participating cluster benefits from the exchange of specialised knowledge and expertise—for instance, Surat enhances its export-readiness, while Tiruppur gains access to advanced manufacturing techniques in MMF. It will also contribute to increasing value addition within the country, thereby reducing reliance on imports and optimising overall productivity across the textile value chain,' Kanishk Maheshwari, Co-founder & MD, Primus Partners, for these partnerships to be a success, there are certain on-the-ground challenges that must be addressed. Maheshwari noted that cross-regional partnerships face challenges due to lack of established communication platforms, competitive mindsets, and limited history of collaboration. 'Without structured facilitation, trust-building and joint decision-making become slow and inefficient,' he training and R&D centres should be developed, he said, with a focus on MMF textiles and garments. Besides this, facilitating access to technology, financial support for MSMEs, and cluster-specific policy initiatives can also help minimise the challenges that can say the success of this strategic collaboration could serve as a model for other clusters to emulate and learn from. This can pave the way for more innovative thinking in the textile domain. Addressing the challenges while leveraging strengths is crucial for positioning India as a key player in the global MMF apparel value chain.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Threading new ties: Surat and Tiruppur explore collaboration to boost India's MMF trade
Live Events Experts say the success of this strategic collaboration could serve as a model for other clusters to emulate and learn from. As geopolitical tensions and US tariffs affect the global supply chain, businesses across the world are looking at new strategies to navigate the disruptions in trade. Against this backdrop, industry associations from Tiruppur and Surat, two major textile clusters in India, are currently engaged in talks to explore mutual synergies that could enhance the man-made fibre (MMF) trade from the clusters are renowned for their expertise in distinct segments of the textile trade. Surat is recognised as India's leading MMF manufacturing hub, while Tiruppur is widely known as the knitwear capital of the from the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) in Surat are expected to visit Tiruppur between August and September this year to have a concrete discussion with the Tiruppur Exporters' Association (TEA) to deliberate further on the matter. 'It has been initiated, and the agenda of the MoU will be discussed during our visit,' said Ashish Gujarati , former president of SGCCI, in a conversation within Surat. 'We are hopeful of signing an agreement a few months after that,' he collaboration will entail Tiruppur exporters setting up a few units in Surat to gain first-hand experience in MMF garment production, while Surat exporters will have the opportunity to learn the nuances of the export culture from sources MMF fabric for the domestic market from Surat. Surat, conversely, has yet to establish its competence in export to Gujarati, such a collaboration can benefit the textile industry in India, not just for the clusters involved. 'It will benefit textile trade overall, not just for Tiruppur or Surat. It can be a 100% win-win; we have investors ready to collaborate with Tiruppur on this initiative,' he said. Kumar Duraiswamy , Joint Secretary of TEA, confirmed that discussions are in progress, noting that Tiruppur can support Surat in identifying markets, understanding buyer standards, and determining fabric requirements to meet international standards, among other aspects. 'These are nuances on which we can educate them. As far as we are concerned, we procure fabric for domestic manufacturing from Surat. It is about complementing each other; such mutual complementarity will benefit both sides,' he expects MMF exports to go up by 20-25% in the next few years if such collaborations pick up momentum. Currently, China leads in MMF production, with an estimated global market share of 72%. India is the second-largest producer, with MMF contributing 17% of India's total textile in the industry indicate that a collaboration between Surat and Tiruppur could lead to significant growth in the MMF sector nationwide. 'By improving product quality and variety, India can increase its share and reach a target of $100+ billion in exports and global MMF trade, currently dominated by China. Each participating cluster benefits from the exchange of specialised knowledge and expertise—for instance, Surat enhances its export-readiness, while Tiruppur gains access to advanced manufacturing techniques in MMF. It will also contribute to increasing value addition within the country, thereby reducing reliance on imports and optimising overall productivity across the textile value chain,' Kanishk Maheshwari, Co-founder & MD, Primus Partners, for these partnerships to be a success, there are certain on-the-ground challenges that must be addressed. Maheshwari noted that cross-regional partnerships face challenges due to lack of established communication platforms, competitive mindsets, and limited history of collaboration. 'Without structured facilitation, trust-building and joint decision-making become slow and inefficient,' he training and R&D centres should be developed, he said, with a focus on MMF textiles and garments. Besides this, facilitating access to technology, financial support for MSMEs, and cluster-specific policy initiatives can also help minimise the challenges that can say the success of this strategic collaboration could serve as a model for other clusters to emulate and learn from. This can pave the way for more innovative thinking in the textile domain. Addressing the challenges while leveraging strengths is crucial for positioning India as a key player in the global MMF apparel value chain.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
ET Make in India SME Regional Summits: Racing past China while Trump's tariffs clear the path
Live Events The timing couldn't be better for Surat's industrial renaissance. As geopolitical tensions reshape global supply chains and AI overhauls manufacturing, this city's diverse MSME ecosystem is positioning itself to capture opportunities worth tens of billions of transformation is most visible in Surat's diamond district, where Jayanti Savaliya of the Gem & Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) oversees an industry that has evolved from manual processes to AI-driven precision in just two decades."Changes that took a decade earlier are now happening in two years," Savaliya shared, describing how robotic machines now handle diamond sorting while AI reduces jewellery design rendering from days to minutes. Savaliya was part of the panel 'From looms to labs: How Surat's MSMEs can lead India's next wave of industrial innovation'. The discussion was one of several insightful conversations at the ET Make in India SME Regional Summit in Surat, which took place on July 18. The summit had IDBI as banking and lending partner and Canon as tech other panellists were: Ashish Gujrati, Managing Director, Aditya Textile Solutions and Past President, SGCCI; Bikash Chandra Naik, Zonal Head, NSIC; and Prashant Patel, Past President of FISME and Director, RK Synthesis former President Trump's trade policies have become Surat's secret weapon. His tariffs hit China with 40% duties on jewellery while India faces just 16-26%, creating what Savaliya called "a huge opportunity" as manufacturing shifts from Chinese factories to Surat's 600 new jewellery tariff advantage extends beyond diamonds. Ashish Gujrati pointed to recent developments in Bangladesh, where a 35% tariff has global garment buyers scrambling for alternatives. Surat, which produces 65% of India's man-made fiber, stands ready to fill the numbers are staggering: Surat's garment industry is growing 25% annually, and the city has a $30 billion export opportunity in man-made fiber textiles alone. With global MMF exports projected to grow from $7.7 billion to over $73 billion, Surat's comprehensive ecosystem — spanning the entire value chain within 45km — positions it as a natural city's MSME transformation runs deeper than favourable trade winds. Prashant Patel, described a fundamental shift in business philosophy. "Historically, Indian companies avoided R&D, opting for copy-paste models," he noted at the ET SME Summit panel in Surat. "But since Covid-19, this mindset has changed."Today, Surat companies invest in developing new technologies, not just new products. This includes process optimisation that reduces raw material usage and addresses pollution concerns, which are critical factors for accessing international markets increasingly focused on government infrastructure supporting this innovation has evolved too. Bikash Chandra Naik spoke about NSIC's Single Point Registration Scheme, which reserves 25% of government procurement for small competitive edge increasingly lies in its skilled workforce. Despite China's scale and cost advantages, nine out of 10 diamonds globally are still processed in Surat, a testament to the city's unmatched expertise in precision advantage is expanding beyond traditional sectors. While Jaipur currently dominates gemstone processing, Savaliya underlined the untapped potential for Surat to leverage its existing infrastructure and skilled labour in this adjacent obstacles remain. Land costs in Surat now exceed those in competing industrial centers like Bharuch and Vapi. Skilled workers command premium salaries that stretch MSME budgets, while the lack of shared R&D infrastructure forces companies to either invest crores of rupees in equipment or relocate to areas with better common challenges haven't dampened ambitions. With the PM MITRA textile park awaiting implementation and India's global textile trade share poised for recovery from its current 2.94%, Surat's MSME ecosystem appears ready to capitalise on a convergence of technological advancement and geopolitical the panel discussion at the ET Make in India SME Regional Summit - Surat revealed, the city's transformation from a traditional manufacturing hub to an innovation-driven ecosystem reflects a broader shift in Indian industry, one where MSMEs aren't just adapting to global changes, but actively shaping a world where supply chains are being redrawn and AI is redefining manufacturing, Surat's diverse industrial base and rapid technology adoption may well position it to lead India's next wave of industrial innovation. The ET Make in India SME Regional Summits , ET MSME Day, and ET MSME Awards are flagship initiatives to celebrate the versatility and success of India's MSME sector. If you lead or are part of a micro, small, or medium enterprise, register for the ET MSME Awards 2025 before August 31, 2025.
