In order to give a boost to the Indian textile sector, the Centre is exploring options with other countries to provide the technology support for speciality fibre and other related products. The Government sees a huge potential in the technical textiles sector but thinks it needs to be explored.
Union Textiles Secretary Raghavendra Singh said “Technology is important for speciality fibre. We are trying to see how to get it.” The government is talking to the Japanese Government and simultaneously discussing similar things with few US companies.
For the same, it has prepared two reports on technical textiles. The first report is to tap the potential and the other is how to utilise it. The Government notified 207 products that classify as ‘technical textiles’, mainly for export and import purposes. The industry requested to include more products. Although, he feels that skilling the people in the sector was another major task.
He further requested India’s Centres of Excellence for technical textiles to initiate the process to select some of the prototypes developed so far and give an industry connect to these products. Technical textiles has been identified as the thrust area for an exponential growth by the Centre and also by all the state governments considering its potential for value addition, exports, domestic demand.
Now, the Centre offers 15 per cent credit linked capital investment subsidy for technical textiles machines under Amended Technology Upgradation Fund scheme, apart from providing various other benefits. On the other hand, the Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Karnataka governments have also offered special incentives for investments made in technical textiles. Recently, the Tamil Nadu government in its Integrated Textile Policy has announced 6 per cent interest subsidy for technical textiles products.
Raghavendra was addressing a conclave in Coimbatore. The one-day conclave was organised by Indian Technical Textile Association, Southern India Mills Association and Indian Texpreneurs Federation. The conclave was organised to address the problems and create awareness in the sector. Along with the Union Textiles Secretary; AK Singh, Director General, Life Sciences, DRDO, launched the event. About 140 entrepreneurs from across country took part in the event.
