Mumbai: 2024/04/10: Union Minister Piyush Goyal asked textile industry stakeholders to work on a long roadmap for the development of the sector.
The Textiles Minister said that the industry needs to focus on the world market as this will help in making the sector competitive.
“We are working on a cross-sector team to prepare a roadmap for India,” he said at a textile industry event here. He said the Indian economy is likely to reach US$35 million by 2047, “so we have to see what share the textile industry will have in it”.
On this occasion, Borivali MP Gopal Setty and MLA Sunil Rane were also present with him. During his interaction, the Minister stressed the need for close interaction and coordination between government agencies and local elected representatives to create a conducive environment in implementing various government initiatives.
The Minister said that applications received under subsidy-oriented schemes should be processed in a transparent manner using automation keeping in mind the broader objective of each scheme and necessary mechanisms should be put in place so as to eliminate personal contact between the industry and the department. It can be done and the process can be standardized.
The Minister highlighted the need to increase the productivity of cotton and take necessary initiatives with the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. Cotton Corporation of India will work on the possibilities of providing cotton plucking machines to cotton farmers through startups established by availing Mudra loan and special models will be developed to assist small players. Shri Goyal stressed on the issue of eradication of child labor in the textile sector and suggested convening a meeting with stakeholders to make a strategic plan.
Reviewing the activities of Export Promotion Councils, the Textiles Minister suggested broad-based industry negotiations for developing country-oriented comprehensive trade agreements. Also, develop financial instruments to support the industry, which are not focused on subsidies and enable stable credit flow from banks through such guarantees, the minister said.
The Minister also stressed the need for development and exhibition of future value-added products. He considered the need to develop technical textiles for optimum utilization of wagon covers and National Technical Textiles Mission to leverage our strengths and meet the market requirements. He also stressed the need for branding Pashmina wool internationally. Furthermore, he urged textile research associations to become self-reliant instead of relying on government grants.
Addressing the media after the meetings, the Minister said that the textile sector is the largest employer as well as the largest exporter. He said that this sector can play a very important role in fulfilling the vision of the Honorable Prime Minister of doubling the income of farmers, creating employment opportunities for the youth and enabling every Indian citizen to live a life of self-reliance and self-respect.
