Government of Gujarat Is Already Mulling on Making Textile Policy to Make It Better

Not much time has passed since the government of the Western Indian state of Gujarat unveiled its new textile policy in September 2012, but the state government is already mulling on making amendments in the same to make it even better.
 
Though cotton is a strong point for Gujarat, the state needs to encourage the spinning industry, and also adhering to demand from several industry representatives for further benefits under the textile policy, the state government would be shortly making necessary amendments in the textile policy, Saurabh Patel, Minister of State for Industries, Mines and Petrochemicals said while speaking at an international conference on cotton in Ahmedabad.
 
Besides reinforcing the spinning industry in the textile value chain, Gujarat government also intends to boost skill development in textile industry, he said.
 
To this end, they have already directed the labour department to connect and work in association with the textile industry of the state, he added.
 
Gujarat’s new textile policy ‘Navi Gujarat Vastraniti’ aims to help cotton farmers get better price realizations and also infuse new life in to the textile industry of the state.
 
The objective of the policy is to have an integrated approach to strengthen the value chain - “Farm to Fibre to Fabric to Fashion to Foreign” (5 Fs), which will enhance sustainable growth of farmers and industry.
 
The policy envisages starting cotton spinning and weaving parks around cotton growing areas and will provide support for energy and water conservation and environmental compliance.
 
The new Textile Policy was expected to attract investment of over Rs.200 billion, while creating new employment opportunities for more than 2.5 million people, during the next five years period.