Diversify markets, make India a textile hub: Maran

30 Jun 2009, 2028 hrs IST, ET Bureau
The Economic Times

TIRUPUR: The textile ministry is keen to make India a destination for textile products. "People visiting India should look at it as a market for
buying textile goods," said Union textile minister Dayanidhi Maran here on Tuesday.

Speaking to reporters after addressing exporters in the knitwear town, Mr Maran said Indian textile products should be aggressively marketed under the ‘Made in India’ brand.

The country should look ‘east’ and not wholly depend on US and Europe markets for knitwear exports, he said. Noting that textile exports have dropped due to global recession, he said exporters should look at markets like Japan, Cambodia, Australia, South Africa, Brazil, Russia and Turkey to promote the Indian products.

Highlighting the potential of Indian textiles beyond the traditional markets, he cited the instance of the Japanese preferring Indian brands over those made in China.

To initiate the process of tapping newer markets, Mr Maran is leading a delegation of textile exporters to Japan to take part in an International fair and a buyer-seller meet from July 20 -24.

"The fair has attracted 250 exhibitors from all over the world and nearly 50 Indian exporters are going to exhibit their products there. Among the 50 exhibitors, 44 are from the apparel sector," added Tirupur Exporters Association president Sakthivel.
In addition to new markets, Mr Maran asked textile manufacturers to look inward and cater to the growing domestic market. "Despite global meltdown, India survived because of its domestic consumption," he said.

In the textile industry, 70% of consumption is from the domestic market. Therefore, garment producers should look at promoting quality goods within India too, the textile minister added.

On the need for infrastructure development in Tirupur, Mr Maran said, as an MP, he would raise the need for implementing marine discharge project as well as other development schemes.

Earlier, Mr Sakthivel requested the minister to support the Knitwear Technology Mission, essential for the growth of the industry in Tirupur. "Since we mainly produce cotton-based products for Western markets, we need technology support to produce other synthetic-based products too," he said.