Brands based in Kerala are likely to dominate the country’s retail sector in the near future, according to sector experts who participated in a panel discussion at the two-day Invest Kerala Global Summit that concluded here on Saturday (February 22, 2025).Active efforts are being made with the support of the State government to bring back the garment manufacturing industry to the State in a big way. While admitting that Kerala’s retail garment sector was facing stiff challenge from online players, Kalyan Silks chairman and managing director T.S. Pattabhiraman said the sector, however, still had many opportunities to tap into.World-class brands should come up from Kerala. Each manufacturer should try to generate goodwill for Kerala brands in the global market. The garment manufacturing industry had migrated from Kerala to other States. However, thanks to creative efforts by the State government, attempts were being made to bring back the industry to Kerala, said Mr. Pattabhiraman.Shadowfax CEO and co-founder Abhishek Bansal observed that the number of youngsters starting entrepreneurships remained very high in Kerala. The State has become a hub of domestic brands. However, the penchant for international brands was also on the rise. He said Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi would figure in the top 15 when it comes to food delivery.Fashion and garment industry collectively accounts for a market value of $80 billion, said Venu Nair, senior vice president, Myntra, an e-commerce giant in fashion and lifestyle products. Of this, e-commerce only accounts for around 13%, which points to the untapped potential of the sector. India remains the final frontier yet to be conquered by international brands. This potential should be fully utilised, Mr. Nair added.Jacob John, president, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail, said a critical evolution was happening in the retail sector in Kerala. Figures from the State exceeds the national average numbers in the retail sector. Indigenous Kerala-based brands still continued to dominate the multi-brand outlets here, he pointed out.EMI arrangement has revolutionised the retail sector, observed managing director of Sangeeta Mobiles, Subhash Chandra L. He said the retail sector in the State had miraculously overcome the challenges posed by natural calamities and health emergencies.Retailers Association of India chairman Bijou Kurien said villages in Kerala were wealthier and enjoyed even better purchasing capacity than cities. Better living standards and progressive thinking would influence purchasing capacity in the retail sector, he added.Published - February 22, 2025 11:38 pm IST