Industry sings paeans to Tibetans

Shivani Bhakoo

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 17

Hosiery manufacturers in the city claim that their trading with Tibetans is worth more than Rs 1,000 crore and manufacturers of woolen products, including cardigans, sweaters, jackets, socks, shawls, and mufflers, maintain that it is the “best” community as far as clean business is concerned.

They say more than 90 per cent of the Tibetans make timely payments and this was the major reason that manufacturers never shy away from giving them products on credit also.

Indo-Tibetan Hosiery Association president Naveen Sood said most of the Tibetans were not residents of the city and lived in Himachal Pradesh, Uttrakhand, and Karnataka, but they regularly visited the city to buy woollen goods.

“A majority of them are honest and believe in transparency while doing business. On Thursday, we had organised an Independence Day function to honour the community which is paying more than Rs 400-crore tax to the government. We feel privileged in working with them,” said Sood.

Another manufacturer in the city said manufacturers do not mind giving products to Tibetans on credit basis. “We know our payments are secure. We provide them with goods on credit and they make payments by January or February every year. 90 per cent of the woolen items they sell are purchased from Ludhiana,” said the manufacturer.

TIbetan Refugee Traders Association (TRTA) Vice-President Yeshi Phunstok said from Ludhiana, they procured several products and sold them across the country. He praised the Indo-Tibetan Association for extending cooperation as and when needed. Naveen Sood said the Tibetan buyers included several women who were actively into business and negotiated with local manufacturers.