The Textiles Minister, Ms. Smriti Zubin Irani, witnessed the signing of MoUs worth Rs. 8,835 crores in the textile sector at the Vibrant Gujarat 2017 held recently in Gandhinagar. The MoUs signed covered different segments such as textile parks, textile processing, machinery, carpet development, etc.
Addressing the ‘Make in Gujarat’ seminar held on the occasion with its theme “Trends & Innovation impacting the Textile Value Chain”, she said that given the entrepreneurial spirit of Gujaratis and the investment inflow, it is certain that the State has just begun. With the highest concentration of textile mills in India, Gujarat is now a one-point sourcing hub for all textile operations.
She said that there are huge possibilities for expansion of textile education in the State, and the development programme in the textile sector held at 28 ITIs of Gujarat running the textile courses has recorded a placement figure of 75 per cent. Two major institutes of Gujarat – NIFT and NID – and various engineering colleges offer degrees in textile technology, textile processing and textile engineering.
The Minister also pointed out that Gujarat produces 29 per cent of India’s total cotton production. This indicated the trust of textile industries in the State’s prospects. Her Ministry offered all support for the development of the textile value chain of the State and to explore possibilities in technical textiles and research.
Mr. Jayesh Radadiya, Gujarat Minister of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Cottages Industry, Printing and Stationery, Dr. Kavita Gupta, Textile Commissioner, Mr. Shishir Jaipuria, Chairman, FICCI Textile Committee, Ms. Sunaina Tomar, Principal Secretary, Education Department, Government of Gujarat, were among the dignitaries present on the occasion.