Regulatory framework to achieve growth in technical textiles

16 Sep '09

3 min read

The Government is actively considering to provide a regulatory framework to achieve 25% growth per annum of technical textiles against business-as-usual growth of 11%, said Smt. Rita Menon, Secretary, Ministry of Textile while addressing the workshop on 'Strengthening-Government-Industry-Consumer Partnership in Protective Textiles' organized jointly by Ministry of Textile and FICCI,.

Secretary (Textiles) said that the Protective textiles are a growing industry, which is expected to increase from Rs.1,259 crore in 2007-08 to over Rs. 2,000 crore by 2012-13.Presently, 60-65% of the domestic consumption of protective textile is met through imports. There is an urgent need to develop standards, procedures and manufacturing capacities of international standards, if India is to compete globally and corner a large share of this emerging segment of textiles, emphasized Secretary (Textiles). We are planning road shows in seven European countries to attract foreign investment, informed Secretary (Textiles).

Secretary (Textiles) said that the Government have set up four Centres of Excellence (CoEs) for Meditech, Agrotech, Geotech and Protech group of technical textile, which will provide one-stop facilities for testing, human resource development and research and development. These Centres of Excellence (CoEs) will be equipped with state-of-the-art laboratories which will be accredited to NABL to meet international standards. The activities of the CoEs will be synergized with the laboratories of Defence Research and Development Organizations (DRDO) and Director General Quality Assurance (DGQA) to set standards for defence procurement and fulfill the Defence and Para Military forces requirement, said Secretary (Textiles).Already Government has removed fiscal anamolies affecting the development of technical textile and we are providing 10% capital subsidy under technology up gradation fund schemes for machinery used for manufacture of technical textiles, said Secretary (Textiles).

The Indian defence forces have a huge need for protective gears which are mainly imported and there is an urgent need to set standards as well as create synergies between different R&D institutions said Shri Ajoy Acharya, Additional Secretary, (Defence Production), Ministry of Defence.

The workshop brought together consumers, suppliers and regulators in the area of public safety and understand each other's requirements and concerns. The use of these protective textiles is very limited and well below the potential in India, primarily because of lack of awareness amongst various consumer segments like Multiplexes, Hotels, Steel & Oil industry, etc. Also, unlike the case in developed countries, in India the relevant standards are not mandatory for textiles used in public places/buildings, as a result these fire retardant textiles are still not used in a large number in public, thereby exposing the public to a very high risk. Hence, thereis an urgent need to promote this industry and encourage the use of these items. The Workshop focused on various rules/legislations that need to be amended to facilitate the use of these textiles in various places.

Press Information Bureau

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