Surat: The Federation of Indian Art Silk Weaving Industry (FIASWI) and the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SGCCI) have jointly represented the Union Ministry of Textiles to re-introduce the Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUFS) with effect from April 1, 2022, to increase the export of Man-Made Fabric (MMF) from Surat in particular and India in general.
The FIASWI and SGCCI represented at the national-level workshop on ‘Strengthening Collaboration between Industry and Ministry of Textiles’ organized by the Ministry of Textiles with the stakeholders of the textile sector in the country on Thursday.
Bharat Gandhi, chairman of FIASWI said, “The textile ministry should make the arrangement where the textile entrepreneurs are disbursed Rs 2 crore worth of collateral-free loan from the public sector banks for the purchase of high-end textile machinery. Also, there is an urgent need to revive the TUFS for the modernization of the textile sector and to increase fabric export from the country”
Himanshu Bodawala, president of SGCCI said, “In the last couple of years, textile entrepreneurs in South Gujarat, especially Surat have installed about 1.25 lakh hi-tech automatic modern power looms to weave quality fabrics for export. However, the Textile Ministry must revive the TUFS for providing financial relief in the form of subsidy to the textile entrepreneurs and to increase the number of automatic power looms in the industry”
Bodawala demanded Surat is the largest MMF hub in the country supplying more than 45% of MMF fabrics. The textile ministry should seriously think about setting up the regional office of the textile commissioner in Surat.
Former president of SGCCI, Ashish Gujarati said, “The weaving and knitting industry must get 30 percent capital incentive under the Technology Mission Scheme of the Textile Ministry, 40 percent capital incentive to the dyeing and printing, and processing industry for the process of technical textile fabrics. Technical textile units in Surat and South Gujarat are contributing immensely to the home textiles, luggage tech, and sports tech”
Gujarati added, “An exclusive renewable energy policy is the need of the house for the textile industry in support of the MNRE. Textile manufacturing units should be permitted to install renewable energy plants outside their premises”
The online and offline workshop was attended by Textile Secretary Upendra Prasad Singh, secretary Pravinsinh Pardeshi, Joint Textile secretary, Prajakta Verma, and Textile Commissioner Roop Rashi.
Textile Commissioner Roop Rashi said, “The suggestions given by the textile stakeholders will be complied with by her office and will be submitted to the competent authorities and ministers in the Textile Ministry for early implementation”
