Jaipur: The textile sector in Rajasthan will get the best of technologies and innovations as a part of plans to make the state a "one-stop and most-favoured destination for investment", Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said on Wednesday.
The textile industry will be provided with the complete matrix of technology, innovation and quality in order to bring it in line with the 'make in India' Campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Raje said.
"These (technology, innovation and quality) are the hallmarks of the campaign and therefore we want to infuse the best in technology and innovation and make them the best in quality," She said, adding the government was committed to making the state a "one stop and most favoured destination for investment".
Raje was speaking at the inauguration of 'Vastra-2014', the international Trade Fair on Textiles & Appareal at the Sitapura Exhibition and convention centre in Jaipur.
"Foreign markets thrive on style and innovation and we want to introduce these in a big way to make Rajasthan the gateway for handicrafts and textiles," she said.
"We are committed to providing 15 lakh jobs in the state in the next five years and I am sure that the textile sector will continue to provide a major chunk of employment. All our efforts are in this direction," Raje added.
The Chief Minister exhorted the industry to fulfill all environmental norms and reduce use of water and chemicals that can also make the products more attractive to buyers. She also laid stress on skill development, especially in new areas like technology and medical textiles and geo- synthetics.
"We want youngsters to be trained in textiles on the shopfloor so that they can join the industry as trained workforce or set up their own units," she said, adding that the government had already provided a enabling atmosphere by changing labour laws and offering concessions to attract investments.
"This will not only make it easier for industry to do business, but also employ people, train them and also provide welfare to them," Raje said. This is the third edition of the event organised by RIICO, with FICCI as co-organiser.
The event is supported by the Government of Rajasthan and the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India. State Industry Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar said that Rajasthan was already a prominent state on the Textile map of the country.
"We have made it one of the thrust sectors in the Rajasthan investment promotion scheme 2014, which will help it become a textile hub in the country," he said.
"Rajasthan is already the cultural hub of the country and we also want that to be on full display at Vastra," the minister said, adding that the fair will be made more vibrant and festive so that the visitors can have a memorable experience. Additional Chief Secretary (Infrastructure) and Chairman RIICO Chre CS Rajan said that India will be a major growth centre in world textile trade by the year 2025.
The data released by the US state department reveals that Indian Industry has grown 7 per cent from January to August this year, despite the strengthening of the rupee as against a global average of 2 per cent, he said.
Also, India is all set to emerge as the top cotton grower ahead of even China, for the first time in three decades. Rajasthan will be at the forefront of this growth because it already is the leading industry in the state," Raje said.
Principal Secretary (Industries) and Managing Director RIICO Veenu Gupta said, "Vastra has come to represent not only industry from Rajasthan but from the entire country and the participation has gone up from 3-4 states in the earlier years to seven this year."
She said the fair has come to supplement the efforts of the Government of India for the promotion of the sector. She added that the participants had been screened to select only quality and bulk buyers so that Vastra can be focused more on increasing business, Gupta emphasized.
"Business worth $70 million was transacted last year and we have implemented several new initiatives to increase it this year after taking feedback. Diplomats and High Commissioners have also been invited this year to increase the outreach opportunities," she added.
FICCI General Secretary Didar Singh said, "We are enthusiastic about the efforts of the government and will endeavor to make it among the top 10 textile fairs in the world "as the Raje government made slow of reforms in her budget.
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