Textile industry to be major beneficiary of vision 2023: SIMA

COIMBATORE:The textile industry, the backbone of Tamil Nadu's economy and accounting for one-third of the nationwide textile business, providing direct employment to over 50 lakh, would be major beneficiary of various schemes announced in the Vision Tamil Nadu 2023, South India Mills' Association ( SIMA) said.

In a statement, SIMA chairman, S Dinakaran praised Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for brining out 'Vision Tamil Nadu 2023', which sets a target of 11 per cent GSDP and to make an investment of Rs 15 lakh crore for infrastructure and other development activities by 2023.

However, a major worrying factor for sustaining the competitiveness and growth of the textile industry, according to him, was lack of infrastructure particularly roads and ports and more so power in recent years.

Dinakaran also welcomed the vision of building 20,000 MW additional power generation in the next 10 years and said the textile industry would gear up itself to meet the vision to achieve the inclusive growth and also skill development.

He urged the Chief Minister to consider two centres of excellence for skill development with R&D facilities -- one in Madurai and another in Coimbatore-- which are the Centres for textile business and textile cluster.

He also lauded the importance given for innovation and development of SMEs.