Textile industry urge Centre to come forward to redress issues

COIMBATORE: The textile industry in Tamil Nadu could double exports and its performance if the Centre comes forward to redress some specific issues faced by the community, an industry official said today.

The production sectors like spinners, hosiery manufacturers, textile and garments exporters and autolooms cloth manufacturers have prepared a detailed report on the 'opportunities and challenges' faced by the industry with the help of experts and it would be submitted to Union Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitaraman, who is visiting the city on December 27, D Prabhu, Secretary, Texpreneurs Forum told reporters here.

Various textile- related associations, including Andhra Pradesh Spinning Mills Association, wanted the Centre to identify four trade zones--Latin America, Russia, European Union and South Asia to which India could export the produce and create strategic trade agreements, he said.

Since the Centre was in the process of taking a few policy decisions regarding textile industry, the associations would place on record their views on these policies, A C Eswaran, President, South India Hosiery Manufacturers Associating, said.

Tamil Nadu has one-third of the production of textile industry, having 47 per cent of total spinning mills and contributing 60 per cent of the yarn exports of India and also purchasing about 30 per cent of total cotton produced in the Country, Prabhu said.