By: Dr. Mathivanan

Indian textiles industry is a well-established with showing strong features and a bright future. In fact, the country is the second biggest textiles manufacturer worldwide, right after China. Similar force is demonstrated in the cotton production and consumption trend where India ranks just after China and USA. The textiles manufacturing business is the economic life of the country, which is still predominantly based on the agro alimentary sector. Employing around 35 million people, textiles industry stands as a pioneer activity in the Indian manufacturing sector and it has a primordial importance in a major foreign currency revenue generator and further proves it in its 14% share of industrial production and the 20% of export revenues it generated.

Textiles industry is not limited to manufacture and export of garments. The success of Indian textiles lies in an effective vertical integrations policies which have helped operators in taming the processes which while lying beyond simple manufacturing exercise do have a serious impact on it, for example, raw material treatment. Thus, cotton, jute, silk or wool and even synthetic material are also produced by this industry to complement and strengthen the garments manufacturing industry. Almost one quarter of the world's spindle activities is hosted in India, again positioning itself just after China. Looming is another important element that accounts for significant activity in this industry; in fact, it takes an impressive 61 % share including hand looms. The country is also significant textiles fiber and yarn manufacturer on the world scene, taking on its own a 12% share of the world's production volume. India ranks on the second place as regards in production of silk and cellulose fiber and yarn whilst standing on the fifth position when it comes to synthetic fiber and yarn.

Indians have well understood the importance of staying one step ahead of developments in the world economic environment. The industry is now preparing itself to take share of opportunities expected to arise out of the market freed from quota restrictions and other trade barriers. Industry operators are increasingly moving towards modernization and expansion as encouraged by the so-designated Textile Upgradation Fund Scheme implemented by Government of India.

The local textile sector is now at a critical stage where it should prepare itself to rise and grab the opportunities that are available through liberalization of the international market. Manufacturers however, were caught in inadvertence as new players started to creep on the market at a time when most operators had attention on imminent opportunities coming from a quota free market. Strategies and policies were mainly targeted towards expansion and modernization leaving more space to domestic players. Now it obviously appear that the latter have had ample freedom to strengthen them and they are now more prepared than export-oriented companies.

According to WTO, India's share in the world trade in textiles & clothing during the last three years is as follows:

Year 2004 2005 2006

% age share 2.99 3.66 3.68

Lack of competition is eroding enthusiasm, impacting on activity on the European and USA markets. With the removal of quotas and similar trade barriers, observers expect the market to provide new opportunities with evaluations reaching S$1.4bn for towels and US$1.8 in bed linen. China's impressive production capacity and its growing strength compelled Europe and USA markets to some serious reflections. To bring a halt to massive invasion of their products, EU and USA have imposed trade restrictions, which also encourage retailers to review their sourcing strategy through diversification out of China. Now, undoubtedly India has good cards to play. With traders realizing the threat of relying on a single manufacturing source such as China, India could do well in proposing a valuable alternative to buyers on the international scene, but this is only possible through an adequate and appropriate development strategy and macro-economic policy.

In that view, many manufacturing companies in India are rushing towards expansion and modernization options. Manufacturers are having recourse to fund raising programmes pushing EPS to higher growth, dissolving equity on its way. Business collaborations with foreign, players, creation of buying offices and Government's effort to enhance quality production and export are many visible signs of Indians coming into force on the global market.