Swiss textile machinery giant Rieter has already announced plans to invest US $50 million in India over the next five years. Taiwans Dogetech, specialized in textile accessories / Pre-Spinning machinery is also planning to set up plants in Coimbatore and Kolhapur and other global textile machinery giants like Sulzer, Picanol, Saurer, Truetzchelr are evaluating the economies of shifting production to Indian subcontinent. It is estimated that if global textile machinery giants set up production base in India, they would be able to sell at 60% of their current prices to Indian consumers, which would translate into a huge cost advantage.

The domestic machinery manufacturers should also enter into joint venture and strategic alliances with global manufacturers to take advantage of the technology transfer.

The lower cost of manufacturing in India with adequate level of indigenisation should enable the local manufacturers of textile machinery to bridge the price differential with imported second hand machines through competitive pricing and lower logistics cost.

Conclusion

The opportunities are knocking the doors of textile engineering industry in terms of growing demand of textile machinery in the domestic market and also in the neighbouring countries which are emerging as textile economies. The moot point is whether TEI can gear up in terms of scaling up of capacity and technology level to take advantage of the growing demand.

The imports of textile machinery by Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Indonesia are growing steadily. A vibrant textile machinery industry will not only support indigenous textile industry in its accelerated growth path but will also cater to the requirement of the neighbouring countries. An image of global player with local prices will catapulate this industry to the unprecedented heights.

About the Author:

The author is the Jt. Textile Commissioner.