Technical textiles is the next sunrise sector for India, said Zohra Chatterjee, Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, at the third International Exhibition & Conference on Technical Textiles (Technotex 2014) in Mumbai.

 

Giving a detailed insight on the Government’s vision for the development and growth of the technical textiles sector, Ms. Chatterjee said the Government is contemplating a five-fold increase in the fund outlay for the sector during the 12th Five Year Plan period (2012-17).

 

Terming technical textiles as the next sunrise sector for India, she said the Government has already launched an integrated skill development scheme aimed at training 15 million people in the technical textiles sector by 2020. 

 

She informed that there is a proposal to increase the foreign direct investment (FDI) limit in India’s technical textiles sector. There will also a major initiative to boost growth of the technical textile sector in the northeast Indian states, she added.

 

For geo-textiles, a pilot scheme with a budget of Rs. 5 billion is under consideration, Ms. Chatterjee said.

 

Speaking at the event, Shishir Jaipuria, chairman, FICCI Committee on Textiles and Technical Textiles, said the technical textiles sector in India is currently pegged at US$ 13 billion, and this sector is likely to grow at 20 percent per annum in the next two years.

 

However, India needs to develop indigenous products for further development of the technical textiles sector, as the country currently imports about $5 billion of technical textiles.

 

Mentioning the various steps taken by the Government for promotion of technical textiles in India, Sujit Gulati, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, said the centres of excellence have been doubled to eight in the Technology Mission programme of 2010.

 

He said that in order to promote agro technical textiles in the northeast Indian states, two demonstration centres are being set up, where usage and benefits of technical textiles, particularly natural fibres, would be showcased.

 

He further informed that technical textiles has been made part of the curriculum in schools and colleges, in association with the Indian Textiles Association, to generate skilled manpower.