India trails China in textile exports

Lucknow, Aug 10 (UNI) India with annual textile exports worth about 17 billion dollars stands second just after China, which is the global leader in the industry.

''India has immensely benefitted as far as textile industry is concerned after the removal of WTO quota system from January, 2005,'' Textiles Committee Secretary Rajiv Aggarwal told UNI here today.

The country is posting healthy annual growth rate in textile sector, he added.

A bulk of the Indian exports head to the US and European Union comprising both cotton and synthetic fabrics.

''Prior to January 2005, there were apprehensions that Indian textile sector could face increasing competition from China, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan,'' Mr Aggarwal added.

However, except for China, no other South Asian country could capitalise from the new WTO regulations, he asserted.

Meanwhile, India continues to import good quality raw silk from China, which traditionally produces finest silk in the world.

was in town to address a workshop on 'Strategies and Mr Aggarwal was addressing a workshop on 'Preparedness for Trade and Globalisation in India', organised by UNCTAD, Department for International Development (DFID) and an NGO, NEED.

It aimed at discussing ways to protect Intellectural Property Rights through Geographical Indication Act, 1999 (that came into force in 2003) of world famous craftsmanship of Lucknow Chikan.

Addressing the workshop, he said a quality control tool 'Handloom Mark' had been unveiled recently by the centre, that aimed at giving common identity to handloom products in India, produced with hands and without using power.

''Only India has a surviving handloom industry in the world.

Earlier, Pakistan and Bangladesh also figured in this group, but over time, all such units in these countries closed down,'' he added.

The Textiles Committee has 30 offices in India, which gives a variety of services -- testing of fabrics, certification, market research and surveys -- to the sector to promote growth and augment exports.

UNI VS CS DS1632