The Government has urged the textile industry to focus on research to make the sector more sustainable in the long run.
Giriraj Singh, Union Textile Minister said the global trend is shifting towards man-made fibre textiles from natural fibre textiles as MMF is cheaper.
Research and development in India should focus on green manufacturing of MMF textiles as there is a growing demand for sustainability and circularity, he said at the recent annual event of the Man-Made Fiber and Technical Textiles Export Promotion Council (MATEXIL).
Globally, he said leading brands and retailers are increasingly focusing on recyclable textiles and the industry is therefore turning toward eco-friendly and sustainable MMF textiles.
In technical textiles, non-woven fabrics are being produced more. These are thermal or chemical processes with numerous benefits, and their importance is particularly high in the Asia-Pacific and European regions, said Singh.
Textile-clothing exports are targeted to reach $100 billion by 2030. Of this, exports of man-made fibre textiles (MMF) and technical textiles are expected to contribute $21 billion.
Bhadresha Dodhia, Chairman, MATEXIL said the main challenge faced by domestic MMF textile industry is the lack of technical expertise in processing and finishing.
Therefore, he said it is essential to collaborate with leading international players in the MMF sector, upgrade technology to international standards, and increase automation.
MATEXIL has developed a new website and a trade dashboard to provide comprehensive information and data related to the trade of MMF and technical textiles. Reliable and customized textile data will help the government in formulating policies more effectively.