TECHNICAL TEXTILES

Considering the growing prospects for technical textiles world wide, priority will be accorded for their growth and development. The focus will be on R& D efforts and augmentation of raw material production. Standards will be set to facilitate adherence to stringent functional requirements.

EXPORTS

Textile exports play a crucial role in the overall exports from India. With the objective of increasing exports to US $ 50 billion by 2010 from the present level of US $ 11 billion, the thrust will be on:

• Establishing a multi-disciplinary institutional mechanism to formulate policy measures and specific action plans, including those relating to the WTO; and closely monitoring financing proposals;
• Forging of strategic alliances for gaining access to technology;
• Operating a brand equity fund exclusively for textile and apparel products, consistent with WTO norms.
• Restructuring AEPC and other Export Promotion Councils play the role of facilitators and professional consultants;
• Developing infrastructural facilities in the predominantly textile and apparel export oriented areas in close co-operation with State Governments and Financial Institutions and the private sector; and
• Evolving a suitable mechanism to facilitate industry associations to deal with disputes under the various agreements of the WTO.

HANDICRAFT EXPORTS

Continued and focussed attention will be given to handicrafts to enable the sector to increase both its contribution to exports and its productive employment. Initiatives will include upgradation of skills, creation of better work environment, design and technology intervention, development of clusters for specific crafts with common service facilities, improvement in infrastructure, and market development.