Gandhinagar: India is all set to get its own size and measure in garments and apparels on the lines of US, UK and European nations, said union textiles minister Smriti Irani on Sunday. She was speaking at the Textile Conclave at Gandhinagar on Sunday, a part of the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
“One of India’s biggest challenges in apparel exports is that unlike UK, US and Europe that have a country specific size, India does not have one. The government will soon roll out a size India project across the country. This will be the first of its kind in the country’s history," the textile minister said.
She said that while a formal announcement on the same will be made soon, the Centre will carry out a study to some up with such an India specific size and measure in the textile and garment sector.
The government will also initiate a statistical study on domestic demand in the Indian market with a view to frame better textile policies in future, the textile minister said at the conclave.
Irani said that India has the capacity to create huge demand not only for the domestic industry, but also for the industry that comes from overseas.
“A study has never been carried out to ascertain the strength and magnitude of our domestic market. The government of India will soon embark upon a statistical study to categorize the entire domestic demand of the Indian market, so that it becomes a base for policy creation and to further strengthen industry and manufacturing possibilities," Irani said.
Speaking on the issue of embedded taxes under the Goods and Services Tax (GST) regime as well as demand for increase in rebate on state levies (ROSL) to boost exports that was earlier cut down by the Centre, Irani said that a resolution was being worked out.
"It has been resolved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the finance minister that taxes are not to be exported. We are working towards that resolution," she said.
Gujarat is on track to re-claim its Manchester of India’s title in the textile sector, chief minister Vijay Rupani said at the conclave.
“Textile is a necessity for all, right from the turban-wearing farmers to our urban population. From 1861, when the first textile mill was established in Ahmedabad to this day, we have kept up with the times and technology to produce world class textile. Right from farmers to fashion designers, textile is an inevitable essential and the Government of Gujarat has developed policies to support the sector," Rupani said.
The three day Vibrant Gujarat summit, biennial event to draw investments to Gujarat saw memoranda of understanding (MoUs) or 28,360 agreement pacts being signed at Gandhinagar where it is held. The event is the brainchild of Prime Minister Modi when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.
At the concluding session, Vice-President of India Venkaiah Naidu said, “The fact that four heads of states and more than 20 ministerial delegations have attended the summit shows the important role India is playing on the global stage."
This transformation of India and Gujarat is a testimony of our strong resolve to put India on the global map as a preferred destination to live and do business, he added.
With the GDP growth consistently remaining above 7 per cent, experts have predicted India to become a $10 trillion economy and the third largest by 2030, Naidu said at the Vibrant Gujarat event.
Source: Live Mint, India Monday, 21 January 2019