Kolkata, Dec 13 (KNN) With a view to bridging the gap between production and consumption of woven clothes in the state, the Department of Micro and Small Scale Enterprises and Textiles (M&SSE&T), is setting up an Integrated Textile Park at Belur in Howrah about 18 kilometres from the state capital.

Thus, the West Bengal Small Industries Development Corporation Limited (WBSIDCL) has called for bids from private firms for setting up the Integrated Textile Park or similar infrastructure to be setup over an area of about 75 acres in a Public Private Partnership mode.

“Presently woven clothes are procured mostly from other states to meet the requirement as there is huge gap between production and consumption in the state.  

“Due to absence of market intelligence, poor exposure to new technologies, lack of product diversification, inadequate infrastructure and common facility centre for power loom with dyeing and processing sector has not yet developed much which requires massive investment,” WBSIDCL said in a notification.

“In light of this M&SSE&T Department, Government of West Bengal desires to set up an Integrated Textile park to uplift the textile sector in the state,” the notification added.
The private firm will be required to renovate/upgrade the basic infrastructure like road, water, power supply.

Warping machines for power loom units, other accessories / equipment required for sizing, warping, power loom, dyeing & processing units are required to be installed at the Common Facility Centre (CFC) for setting up power loom, readymade garments, technical / industrial textile, dyeing & processing units.

For the implementation of the project, WBSIDC will form a joint venture company (SPV) with the selected private partner.

The private entity will be required for integration of design and construction, operation and maintenance and financing of industrial park.

West Bengal houses a number of varied textile manufacturing and distributing companies.

Handloom and cottage industries mainly form the Kolkata textile industry.  Jute textiles are one of the major products of this textile industry owing to the fact that the state is rich in jute production.  At present there are 59 Jute mills in West Bengal. Main jute products are Hessian, sacking, jute bags, and other items produced by jute. Other Kolkata textiles include cotton and silk products. The mostly preferred textile service in Kolkata is garmenting.

38 per cent of the total textile companies in Kolkata are old, dating back to 1990s. Just 18 per cent were established after the year 2000.

65 per cent of these textile companies are associated in export service. (KNN/SD)