“The major reason being that - Uzbekistan does not have any silk consumption of note, and also reduce dependence on China”, a top source in the Indian Textile Ministry told fibre2fashion.

A Textile Ministry report indicates that China accounts for 99% of India’s total raw silk imports. Overall raw silk imports in 2008-9 stood at Rs 8.99 billion, up 22.5 percent from the previous fiscal year.

“The basic idea is to have an alternate source like Uzbekistan. India will cooperate and collaborate in order to increase production of raw silk in Uzbekistan. We are also in talks with Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya for the same type of collaboration”, he added.  

Providing more details, the source said, “A Indian technical team visited Uzbekistan once and during the visit of their President to India, a MoU was signed. Under the MoU, we will provide technical support. Uzbekistan also expects investments from India in silk sericulture”.

India is the second largest producer of raw silk in the world after China, with a share of 15.50% in 2009. India produces both varieties of silk – Mulberry and non-Mulberry, with Mulberry silk accounting for 83% of total raw silk produced.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India