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Badal Sanyal

Mr Pramod Modi, Chairman of international trade committee of the chamber, is believed to have explained to the members that knit fabric in cotton and synthetic has opportunities to grow in Bengal.

Kolkata , Oct. 1

ENCOURAGED by the Union Government's "Look-East" foreign policy, leading textile traders, under the banner of the Chamber of Textile Trade & Industry (Cotti), are set to make the city a major textile export and import hub. They are convinced to achieve this goal without sourcing finished products from other regions of the country.

The Cotti members have observed that the opening of imports shall open a whole new era of textile traders here, who shall be able to buy from thousands of international manufacturers instead of the present limited domestic industry. Moreover, China is now the biggest importer of fibre yarn and fabrics. Therefore, the trade shall be benefited if proper efforts is made to explore this opportunity.

Though it will be tough for local textile traders to become partners of the international trade in view of the fact that West Bengal has no organised textile industry or any Government policy for promotion of exports or imports, to guide the trade, Mr Pramod Modi, Chairman of international trade committee of the chamber, is believed to have explained to the members that knit fabric in cotton and synthetic has opportunities to grow in the State. In fact, the investment and risks are well within the reach of the members.

The children garment sector has been doing well from the region but pace has not kept with growth at national levels. Mr Modi felt that this sector had scope and for which the State has skilled labours and infrastructure in place. It is explained that the city has a vast decentralised sector in garment manufacturing, embroideries, hand printing and screen printing. He suggested local traders to channelise these works in profits.

Moreover, a big volume of trade in fabrics is done through Bangladesh border by unfair means. The Cotti must direct its efforts in a way that trade becomes legal. Cheaper finance should be made available to traders so that they can undertake legal trade with Bangladesh. However, export of yarns to Bangladesh which is affected due to ban on imports through land routes by the Bangladesh Government, while export of woven fabrics to Bangladesh is also facing stiff competition from South-East Asian countries. As there is hardly any manufacturing facilities here, all the exports are routed directly.

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