IloveIndia

IloveIndia
Indian textile industry is the second largest in the world. Here is a brief profile of textile sector in India.

Textile Industry in India

Textile Industry in India is the second largest employment generator after agriculture. It holds significant status in India as it provides one of the most fundamental necessities of the people. Textile industry was one of the earliest industries to come into existence in India and it accounts for more than 30% of the total exports. In fact Indian textile industry is the second largest in the world, second only to China.

Textile Industry is unique in the terms that it is an independent industry, from the basic requirement of raw materials to the final products, with huge value-addition at every stage of processing. Textile industry in India has vast potential for creation of employment opportunities in the agricultural, industrial, organised and decentralised sectors & rural and urban areas, particularly for women and the disadvantaged. Indian textile industry is constituted of the following segments: Readymade Garments, Cotton Textiles including Handlooms, Man-made Textiles, Silk Textiles, Woollen Textiles, Handicrafts, Coir, and Jute.

Till the year 1985, development of textile sector in India took place in terms of general policies. In 1985, for the first time the importance of textile sector was recognized and a separate policy statement was announced with regard to development of textile sector. In the year 2000, National Textile Policy was announced. Its main objective was: to provide cloth of acceptable quality at reasonable prices for the vast majority of the population of the country, to increasingly contribute to the provision of sustainable employment and the economic growth of the nation; and to compete with confidence for an increasing share of the global market. The policy also aimed at achieving the target of textile and apparel exports of US $ 50 billion by 2010 of which the share of garments will be US $ 25 billion.

Strengths of Indian textile Industry
Weaknesses of Indian textile Industry
Outlook for Indian textile Industry
The outlook for textile industry in India is very optimistic. It is expected that Indian textile industry would continue to grow at an impressive rate. Textile industry is being modernized by an exclusive scheme, which has set aside $5bn for investment in improvisation of machinery. India can also grab opportunities in the export market. The textile industry is anticipated to generate 12mn new jobs in various sectors.

Note: The above information was last updated on 21-07-2007