Investment in textile industry increased to Rs 30,000 cr

Chennai, Jun 23: The textile industry has attracted an investment of about Rs 15,000 crore in 2004-05 and during this fiscal, the investment increased to about Rs 30,000 crore, Union Minister of State for Textiles E V K S Elangovan said today.

Delivering the key note address on 'UPA Government's Achievements-Industry and Commerce' here at a two-day Workshop of Southern Zone of Directorate of Field Publicity, he said the new investments in the textile sector would generate 12 million jobs by the year 2010.

On the role of Directorate of Field Publicity, the minister said it was the duty of the department to make the public aware of the recent schemes and developmental programmes initiated by the state government and the Centre.

He said the government will do the needfull to further strengthen the role of Directorate of Field Publicity.

Highlighting the UPA Government's industrial policies , he said under the scheme launched by the UPA government for Integrated Textile Parks(ITP) in August 2005, 25 ITPs were proposed to be set up by 2007, with an additional investment of Rs 18,500 crore.

The minister said the manufacturing sector in India was poised to contribute 25 per cent of India's GDP.

The resurgence of growth in the industrial sector, buoyant exports and brightening of the domestic investment climate were the result of the new government's novel policies, he claimed.

He said the Foreign Trade Policy (2004-09) announced by the government would stimulate greater economic activity through exports and to make exports an effective instrument of economic growth by giving thrust to employment generation.

The Minister said special initiatives were also prepared for agriculture, handicrafts, gems and jewellery, leather and footwear sectors and Special Economic Zones Bill 2005 was already passed. He said his ministry had successfully implemented the vision envisaged in the 'Common Minimum Programme' of the UPA and recorded exceptional progress in achieving the goals of investment and employment generation.

During 2005-06, 20 handloom clusters were set up at an estimated cost of Rs 50 crore, he added.

New Delhi Directorate of Field Publicity Deputy Director General K S Dhatwalia said the department was delivering its interaction programmes both with the urban and rural people successfully.

He said all the field officers were trained and sensitised on the policies and programmes of the government in order to communicate it to the public.

Chennai Directorate of Field Publicity Director M K Santhanam said the department was on sick bed.

He said with out new recruitments and replacement of vehicles, the department would not be able to perform to the maximum.

He said the department was an essential part of Information and Broadcasting ministry.

UNI