The Hindu Business Line : Centre to set up panel for preparing fibre policy

New Delhi June 23 The Union Government will set up an expert committee to formulate a comprehensive fibre policy for cotton and manmade fibres with a view to boost the textile and garment industry.

Highlighting the importance of the apparel and garment sector in creating jobs, the High Level Committee on Manufacturing, chaired by the Prime Minister, Mr Manmohan Singh, said specific policies to encourage the sector would be put in place with "high priority in plan allocations for the sector".

"Adequate supply of fibre is essential for the long-term growth of the textiles and garment industry. An expert committee will be constituted to prepare a comprehensive long-term fibre policy covering both cotton and manmade fibres," a release said.

Group on machinery

The release said while a major skill-training programme will be undertaken to meet the shortfall of manpower, a working group would be set up to look into the issues of the development of textile machinery.

The committee noted that India has been lagging behind in the area of technical textiles like agro-tech, geo-tech, autotech and build tech, which have high growth potential.

"Recommendations of the expert committee report, which is already with the Government, would be implemented on a priority basis within six months," the committee decided.