India Should Focus On Technical Textile Market Expansion: Kavita Gupta

Economy

India Should Focus On Technical Textile Market Expansion: Kavita Gupta

In a recently held Confederation of Indian Industry meet, Textile Commissioner Kavita Gupta stressed the need for India to improve its performance on the Technical Textile sector in a big way. She made the session interactive and elicited audience responses to the effect that the investment in the technical textile sector was only to the tune of 10 percent. Pointing out that in countries like Germany investment in technical textiles amounted to 70 percent, she said that India had tremendous potential to tap in this segment the forthcoming years will provide us with an opportunity to expand on this sector.

RD Udeshi, Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) President sounded a reassuring note that the government will turn flexible (and was subsequently proved true) on fiber and yarn rates for synthetics. He however, observed that the government was following a trial and error model and this should not be the case.

A Sri Lankan textile entrepreneur, who had invested in Andhra Pradesh, narrated his experience of investing in India. He said once the government was convinced that we were serious players and were providing employment to locals on a big scale, the teething problems normally faced when setting shop in India were sorted out. He however, said that strategic planning was required in the initial stages like keeping a Plan B ready if Plan A does not work.

He said, “In the initial years there was plenty of groundwork to be done and it was not all that easy. However, we were convinced that we have a tremendous market potential and our presence in India would enhance our image as Asian players if not global players.”

The morning session of the meet was moderated by Udeshi who concluded stating that excellence in manufacturing was the only road ahead for the future and we have to focus our attention on driving the skill component as well as the technical infrastructure to adapt to global requirements and standards that are set.

The session also emphasized on acquiring a holistic approach to the textile industry in India, presenting a wide range of solutions and minimizing the risk in decision making.