Textile exports likely to rise at much higher growth: Vaghela

Ahmedabad, Jun 5 (UNI) Union Textile Minister Shankersinh Vaghela today said exports of Textile products is likely to record a much higher growth than China in the next two to three years and expects a big boon for Gujarat economy, which is one of the major activity centres in Western India.

''Our textile exports had risen sharply by 25 per cent to 17 billion dollars in 2005 as against 13.5 billion dollars in the previous year despite removal of quota restrictions,'' the Minister told newsmen at a conference.

He said India is gaining ground in export market also due to imposition of restrictions by the United States and Europe on Chinese textile exports till 2008.

He said during his two year tenure as Textile Minister he has announced a scheme for Integrated Textile Parks (SITP) in which Union Government would contribute Rs 80 crore. The Centre has already cleared the proposal of opening up two such parks at Surat and Kutch, which is expected to provide 30,000 jobs.

The Minister said three new proposals for setting up SITP were also under consideration of the Central Government including one at Ahmedabad.

Mr Vaghela said the Centre is ready to provide all assistance to make Gujarat again as the Manchester of India. Two closed mills - New Ahmedabad and Rajnagar mills -- are being modernised by the Government.

The Minister said his Ministry is taking interest in the upgradation of technology in the state and had provided more than Rs 5,200 crore to 1,300 entrepreneurs under the technology upgradation fund scheme.

He said a Textile Plaza, a composite marketing complex for textile goods, is being set up at Jahangir Mill at a cost of Rs 100 crore to generation employment for 15,000 persons.

The Minister claimed that Finance Minister has removed CENVAT on textiles because of his Ministry's continued demand and it had benefited Textile Units in the states as well.

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