Andhra Pradesh to see rise in textile industries

As per the latest estimates, around 106 spinning mills with approximately 3 lakh spindles and 12,635 power loom units are operational in the state.

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to encourage the establishment of textile and garment industries to boost the state’s economy. It is optimistic that this initiative will attract investments amounting to Rs 100 billion into the textile sector, leveraging the abundant availability of raw materials.

The previous YSRCP government had developed a five-year textile policy but failed to release operational guidelines, which led to confusion. Learning from these past experiences, the state government has not only designed a new textile policy but also issued guidelines for its implementation.

According to S Savitha, Textiles and Handlooms Minister, Andhra Pradesh, the state is the sixth-largest cotton-producing state in India, with a production of 1.5 million bales in 2022-23. As per the latest estimates, around 106 spinning mills with approximately 3 lakh spindles and 12,635 power loom units are operational in the state. She emphasised that the government aims to attract more investment into the sector to create employment opportunities. She also highlighted that AP has a readily available workforce, with several educational institutions, including polytechnics and engineering colleges, offering courses in textile technology. The government plans to establish skilling centres in Vizag and Rayadurg.

Savitha noted that there has been limited progress in value-added textile activities such as weaving, knitting, preparatory processes, processing, technical textiles, and integrated units. These sectors hold great potential for value addition and large-scale employment generation. She emphasised the need for a focused approach to convert the entire yarn produced in the state into fabric and prevent value migration. The government aims to create large-scale employment while minimising the ecological and carbon footprint.

The new policy framework will promote key elements of the textile value chain, integrated textile units, and technical textiles. The government has already set up seven dedicated textile parks, and there are five private textile parks in operation.