Consensus on mandatory use of tech-textiles evolving

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Good news for the technical textiles industry. In a move towards strengthening the technical textiles, the government is evolving a consensus for the mandatory use of specific technical textile products. This would enhance safety to workers.

CJ: Mineguruji

Tue, Apr 22, 2008 21:00:01 IST

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FICCI News :

THE GOVERNMENT is evolving a consensus for the mandatory use of specific technical textile products. An inter-ministerial committee for examining the feasibility of a regulatory framework, in this regard, is also being set up to ensure the safety and well-being of the human life.

This was announced today (April 22), by Shankersinh Vaghela, Union Minister of Textiles and AK Singh, Secretary Ministry of Textiles. The announcement was made at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) conference of ‘India technical textiles industry – stimulating demand and promoting development’.

They also revealed that the government is also facilitating the formation of a development council for the technical textiles. The council will have representatives of manufacturers, raw material suppliers, academic institutes and research associations, to identify the problems plaguing the industry and suggest remedial measures.

Inaugurating the day-long conference, Vaghela said, “In order to provide infrastructure support to technical textiles, the government is proposing to set up four centres of excellence.” He further added that these centres will be equipped with internationally accredited testing labs, training facilities for the trainers and the technicians from the industry, the IT-enabled information centres and other requisite support to the technical textile entrepreneurs.

The four centres, which would be ready within six to seven months are, Bombay Textile Research Association (BTRA)- in association with Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Mumbai- for Geotech; Silk & Art Silk Manufacturing Industry Research Association (SASMIRA) for Agrotech; Northern India Textile Research Association (NITRA) for Pyrotech and Southern India Textile Research Association (SITRA) for Meditech, both in association with IIT, Delhi.

The minister also said that the ’technology mission’, announced by the prime minister, in September 2007, will provide support for the development of the technical textile industry. This will include capacity building of the manufacturers, standardisation, product development, common testing faculties, domestic and export market development, and skill development.

The minister informed that the government has also asked the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA) consultancy to conduct a survey, which will shed light on the potential market size of the technical textile industry, he added.

AK Singh, secretary, textiles, pointed out that unlike conventional textiles, the competitive level of the technical textile industry was very low. Thus, there was enough scope for high profit margins. He said that for some technical textile products, there was no indigenous input and the entire demand was met through imports and the manufacturing capacity of some other products was also limited within the country.

The inaugural session was also addressed by Dr CS Gokhale, chairman, FICCI task force on technical textiles.

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