Seminar to deliberate on textile sector growth

To encourage more investments in modernisation and make a bluebrint of the strategies and preparedness for the exponential growth of the Indian textile industry, a seminar on 'Textile industry - vision 2010 - strategies and preparedness' will be organised in Chennai on March 9.

The textile industry in the country has set an ambitious target of $40 billion by 2010 from the present level of $13 billion. The seminar is expected to discuss whether the Indian textile industry is competent enough to achieve the target and the strategies required for the country to become a leading player in the global market.

Addressing a curtain-raiser press conference, Ranjith P Shah, president, Apparels and Handloom Exporters Association, sought support from the government for the survival and competitiveness of the textile industry.

According to him, most of the small units with 50 machines in the textile sector have already closed down and units with 100 machines are finding it difficult to survive. "Unless the government is able to rectify and address the issues relating to infrastructure, power, fabrics, labour policy and financing, we cannot go forward," he added.

Stating that the textile sector has huge potential to generate a large number of jobs, he urged the government to provide more concessions and support measures.

S Ulaganathan, joint director (south zone), Textiles Committee, said the textile sector was the only sector in India having complete value chain from materials to finished products. Issues like availability of skilled workforce needed to be addressed to achieve growth, he added.

H N Nagaraju, director and officer - in charge, regional office of the textile commissioner, said modernisation, new investments, competitiveness in price and time delivery would be key factors to achieve growth. An investment of $0.5 billion in the Indian textile sector would result in an increase of $1 billion in textile exports.

To achieve the $40 billion exports by 2010, the textile sector required an investment of at least $13.5 billion, he said, adding that about Rs 13,478 crore had been sanctioned for 4,156 projects under the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme as of December 2005.

The seminar is being organised by the regional office of the Textile Commissioner, Chennai, in association with the Textiles Committee, Chennai, Apparels and Handlooms Exporters Association and the Indo American Chamber of Commerce. About 100 delegates have so far registered for this seminar.