The Hindu Business Line : Unemployment may reach 1 cr if textile exports do not pick up: Vaghela

Mumbai, Nov 22 Unemployment in the textile industry is expected to reach one crore if exports do not pick up in the coming year, said Mr Shankarsinh Vaghela, Union Minister for Textiles, at the inauguration of the Asian Apparel Conference in Mumbai on Thursday. “Direct employment of 10 lakh as well as indirect employment might be affected,” he told press persons here.

Textile exports were expected to remain level from a year ago despite the rupee appreciation, and the Government would also come out with timely schemes, he assured the textile industry. His concern was that not every industrialist was utilising the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme and stressed on the need for the Indian apparel industry to strengthen its production values, quality and competitiveness to remain buoyant in the market.

Sharing expertise

Textile companies from Asian countries can share their expertise on high-value products, the spend on clothing for the 3.7 billion Asian population, Mr Du Yu Zhou, President, Asian Apparel Federation said.

“India contributes three per cent to global apparel production compared to 31 per cent of China,” said Mr James Arthurs, Chairman- Gerber Technology.

Retailer, Mr Kishore Biyani, Managing Director of Future Group, cited disappointment with the way the market had slipped from the hands of the textile manufacturers, while other consumer segment categories were doing better. “During Diwali, we sold more electronic goods than clothes as the electronic goods industry was successful in pushing its products,” he said.

Though the Future Group retails various items, it was clothing, which sustained its retail business, he said. This was the right time for mergers and acquisitions within the textile industry and the onus was on the industry to build opportunities to grow the pie with the favourable demographics in place today.

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