Surat : The Surat Mandap Cloth Association (SMCA), a pivotal entity in the Surat textile market, convened its general meeting at the Bhagat Tarachand Hotel this Sunday. The gathering saw the participation of approximately 110 association members.
The meeting led to the establishment of a 12-member committee, consisting of stalwarts like Dev Sancheti, Arvind Gadia, Shailesh Shah, Ghanshyam Maheshwari, among others. While three members bid farewell, four new faces have been welcomed to the executive board. The current President Dev Sancheti, General Secretary Arvind Gadia, and Treasurer Ghanshyam Maheshwari are set to continue in their respective roles.
Sancheti emphasized the importance of communication among traders regarding outstanding payments. He outlined that if any party defaults, the association should be notified, and if necessary, association members would collectively address the issue with the defaulting trader.
General Secretary Arvind Gadiya spotlighted discussions around old payment policies and the challenges arising from them. In a stringent move, the association plans to crack down on traders who stall payments while engaging in business with other traders. As a part of this initiative, upcoming trade fairs will feature banners showcasing names of traders who exhibit such business irregularities.
Gadiya stated, “Discipline is paramount in our association. We'll ensure those with payments overdue for a year identify the defaulting party to the institution in a timely manner.” The committee has shown an openness to suggestions, pledging to consider members' inputs.
A special moment during the meeting was the presence of FOSTTA President, Kailash Hakim, who was warmly welcomed. Hakim highlighted the symbolic importance of the mandap cloth, acknowledging its significance in both joyous and sorrowful times. He praised the unity of the association and encouraged co-operative solutions to payment disputes.
Hakim also announced plans for a textile fair under the FOSTTA banner, promoting the diverse offerings from Surat, and urged members to stand united against those who maliciously withhold payments.
The meeting underscored the association's commitment to fair business practices and its intent to ensure regularity and trust within the textile trade community.
