Government to set up 25 textile parks to help domestic industry

New Delhi, May 20 (UNI) Under attack from the BJP and the Left for allowing FDI in retail, the government today said it would set up 25 textile parks across the country to boost competitiveness of the domestic industry.

Other steps on the anvil to create a congenial environment for the domestic industry are further rationalisation of excise duty structure and removal of infrastructure bottlenecks, said Union Textiles Minister Shankersinh Vaghela while inaugurating the International Fashion Technology Forum organised by NIFT here.

Quoting a World Trade Organisation (WTO) study, he said the Indian textile and apparel sector was poised to become the second largest beneficiary following dismantling of quotas.

Various surveys say that the Indian textiles and apparel industry could grow to a potential size of 85 billion dollar by next year, he added.

The domestic market is estimated to reach 45 billion dollar and exports to 40 billion dollar, Mr Vaghela said.

The proposal for setting up 25 integrated textile parks would help the country achieve the 2007 target, he said adding cost of production would come down after further rationalisation of excise duty structure and removal of infrastructure bottlenecks.

On the global fashion scenario, he said India was making its presence felt, and is fast emerging as an intellectual hub and a strong manufacturing base.

''The success of the Indian fashion industry lies in its wide repertoire of designs inspired from the rich craft traditions, state-of-the-art technologies and burgeoning retail environment, '' Mr Vaghela said, adding the ultimate aim was to make India the ''fashion capital of the world'', a mission advocated by President APJ Abdul Kalam.

NIFT (National Institute of Fashion Technology) has played a catalytic role in the growth of fashion and lifestyle-related industry, he said, adding that the NIFT Bill to transform the institute into a centre of excellence in research and a nodal agency for training of trainers was awaiting passage in Parliament.

Already passed by the Rajya Sabha, the Bill is scheduled to be introduced in Lok Sabha on May 22. The Bill allows appointment of two MPs from the Lok Sabha and one from Rajya Sabha to the governing body of NIFT and also change in the definition of 'fashion' to include craft and intellectual aspects of fashion.

NIFT will also be able to award degrees and other academic distinctions after the passage of the Bill, Mr Vaghela said.

The brainchild of NIFT, the two-day International Fashion Technology Forum is being attended by the best brains in fashion, design and management from across the world.

UNI FZ PV DS1352