Growth in technical textiles not to the mark as expected, industries unaware of government schemes and benefits: Textile Commissioner

New Delhi, May 30 (KNN) Talking about the Indian technical textile industry, Dr Kavita Gupta, Textile Commissioner, Ministry of Textile, Government of India, said that most of the industries in textile sector are unaware about the government schemes and benefits that they are offering to the industries.

She was speaking at the industrial meet organized by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and industry (FICCI). The keynote speakers at the meet spoke about the ‘Challenges and Opportunities in Indian Technical Textile Industry.’

The meet, which saw a gathering of around 80 participants associated with the textile industry from and around Punjab, had a riveting discussion about the current state of the textile industry and what steps need to be taken to ensure continuous growth in the sector.

Focusing on creating awareness about the technical textile sector Gupta, said technical textile was a sunrise sector in India.

“Unfortunately, growth in technical textiles is not as encouraging as expected. The government is providing benefits for textile sector but most industries are unaware of it,” said Gupta.

Highlighting the benefits that government offers to the industry, she said the garment industry had more subsidy than other industries that include a 25 per cent of subsidy, 12 per cent EPF, income tax benefit, import duty waiver and some more benefits enjoyed by the garment industry.

Talking about present industry, Mukul Verma, secretary, sports goods manufacturers and exporters association stated that the government should relax norms for the industry so that they can expand their areas.

He also demanded park for the sports good industry in Jalandhar.

For holding joint meetings for research and development project, he said a well-connected place for sports goods industry with proper roads, electricity and sewerage should be there.

During the industrial meet, the traders highlighted the need for government to pay attention to import duty as well.

Indian industry had to pay 10 per cent import duty to send items outside the country whereas Pakistan and Bangladesh had zero import duty, they said.

FICCI hosted an industrial meet ahead of ‘Technotex 2018’ which will be the seventh edition of international exhibition and conference on technical textiles to be held from June 28 to 29 at Bombay exhibition centre.