Steps urged to promote use of technical textiles

The Expert Committee on Technical Textiles (ECTT) has made a presentation before the Union government to promote the use technical textiles.

Technical textiles are textiles used for specific applications in agriculture or in industries like automobile, aviation, civil engineering, chemical, electrical, leather, medical, transportation or for environmental protection. The main features of technical textiles are rated on specific performance parameters and not on aesthetics.

"Technical textiles can play an important role in infrastructure development like railroad, highways, and other strategic areas," the ECTT report observed.

The committee recommended concessional rates of customs duty on 22 specified machinery and 35 high performance fibres and yarns. It has also sought withdrawal of excise duty exemption on sanitary napkins & baby diapers, and an advance license scheme to provide a level-playing field to indigenous manufacturers supplying to World Bank assisted projects.

The committee has also recommended a regulatory framework making it mandatory the use fire retardant textiles in public places, strict enforcement of the use of seat-belts in four wheeler vehicles, use of helmets and installation of air-bags in all new cars, use to technical textiles in all land-fill projects.

"The global conventional textiles sector is growing at the rate of 8-9 per cent, while the technical textiles sector is growing at over 12 per cent. The global consumption of technical textiles is estimated to grow from Rs 38,000 crore in 2000 to Rs 63,500 crore in 2010, with India and China having the fastest growth rate," the report says.

Commenting on the Indian scenario, the report states, "Most of the fibres/yarns required for technical textiles are indigenously produced. Some of the products can be manufactured by minor alteration in the existing production set-up.

"Despite this, the indigenous production of technical textile products in limited and scattered. A huge untapped potential exists in the sector, as the demand for many of the items, mainly defence and police forces, is met through imports."

The report also states that the range and diversity of technical textile industry is widespread. These are used in kitchens, clothes, shoes, cars, furnishing, hospitals and hygiene and have intruded extensively in everyone's day-to-day life.

The committee has further recommended forming an Inter Ministerial Committee (IMC) to co-ordinate the implementation of the Action Plan recommended by it, creating a Steering Committee for growth & development of technical textiles (SCGDTT) to review growth of the industry, and a subcommittee of SCGDTT to provide direction for scientific research.

"The domestic consumption of technical textiles will grow rapidly, providing opportunities for growth, and import substitution. The export potential is very high, as India has the competitive edge over other countries on account of lower cost of production. The implementation of recommendations of ECTT would unleash investment to the tune of Rs 10,000 crore to Rs 15,000 crore," the report concludes.