Govt to implement SDGT in 11th five year plan: Minister

Coimbatore, June 18 (UNI) Union Minister of State for Textiles EVKS Elangovan today said the government would implement a Scheme for Development and Growth of Technical Textiles(SDGT) at an estimated cost of Rs 90 crore during the 11th five year plan.

Inaugurating an International Conference on advances in textiles, machinery, non-woven and the technical textiles(ATNT 2007) in a private college here, he said the scheme will promote indigenous manufacturing of technical textiles, tap global opportunities and increase employment opportunities in technical textiles.

The scheme will also provide infrastructure support by setting up 'Centres of Excellence for Manufacture of Technical Textiles', he added.

Stating that textile and garment industries were playing a major role in the national economy, Mr Elangovan said the textile sector employs about 3.5 crore people.

The minister said the government was aware that textile sub-sectors have a potential for growth in the coming years and the country was well placed to tap the advantages accruing from the sub-sectors.

He said the government policy initiatives in due course will be geared towards the development of the futuristic segments of textiles industry to enable it to gain a place of pride in the world.

Mr Elangovan said the domestic textiles mechanism manufacturing industry was projected to triple its capacity during 2007-2012 with official support from government. However, it could meet the demand of the industry, hence the government permitted import of second hand machinery, he added.

UNI