Indian textile industry is at a very important threshold from where it can move to a higher orbit of growth. It is well poised to create a much stronger footprint across the globe and more importantly meet the country’s inclusive growth objective by providing employment to the rural women. China—which controls 35 per cent of the global textile trade—is in the process of vacating space due to its high cost structure and no one is better placed than India to capture the opportunity we missed in the past.

Initially started by manufacturing a range of pins, Kolkata-based Bajaj Industries Pvt Ltd now has expanded its operation to the entire gamut of pins and pinned products as well as several other products. The company is currently engaged in manufacture of a range of textile pins, pinned products and textile machinery spares and accessories. Its customer range includes reputed textile mills, OEMs, and reseller’s across the globe.

?In technical textiles, we are doing something, but not enough. There is a long journey, but we have not even started it. We have just only 2200 units in technical textiles in this whole big country. Even in the nine textile research associations, which have been entrusted with the tasks of Centres of Excellence, not much has been done. We need a lot more efforts,? the first few sentences from the Textile Commissioner, Dr Kavita Gupta.

As Indian textile industry is an employment generating sector within the manufacturing portfolio, its position is very important in India’s mission on ‘Make in India’. It is very critical that there should be a concerted effort among different stakeholders such as the Government, industry, trade associations, central and state supported R&D laboratories, and academia to advance this sector to the next stage.

In his inaugural speech, at the 56th Annual General Meeting of the Textile Machinery Manufacturers’ Association (India) at Hotel Trident in Mumbai, R Rajendran, Chairman of TMMA, said that the Indian economy in 2015-16 was the shining example of one of the fastest growing economies and oasis of the world in the wake of global slowdown fueled by fall in oil and commodity prices. The GDP grew at 7.6 per cent in 2015-16, continued till date, the highest in last five years as against 7.2 per cent clocked in 2014-15. There was macroeconomic stability and prudent fiscal management. The fiscal deficit target of 3.9 per cent has been met and a fiscal deficit target of 3.5 per cent has been set.

The Union Minister of Textiles Smriti Irani has asked the Textile Commissioner to get a detailed feedback on issues faced by powerloom sector, including yarn price fluctuation, anti-dumping duty on PTA and yarn and dumping of undervalued Chinese fabric and submit a report.

With the advent of inkjet printers and wide applications of inkjet printing in various areas, printing on fabrics also developed. It is a change from conventional method of screen printing – flat bed and roto. Digital printing offers distinct benefits of being able to print attractive design, complex designs, printing in short runs (smaller batch size), easy sampling, and capability of printing anything that you see on a computer screen. It has infused new energy into printing ideas and garment fashion. In a way, it is revolutionary!

Dr G Ramakrishnan, Senior Associate Professor, Department of Fashion Technology has been awarded Dr Radhakrishnan Award for the year 2015-2016 on the eve of ‘Teachers Day’ celebrations held at Kumaraguru College of Technology on September 3, 2016. Dr G Ramakrishnan has more than 30 years of experience that includes 12 years in industry and 18 years in academics. He was the recipient of Gold Medal for securing First Rank in Anna University PG Degree Examinations in 2004. In 2010, he completed his Doctoral degree (Ph D in Textile Technology) from Anna University, Chennai.

The Government of Andhra Pradesh has proposed to drastically slash power tariff to spinning mills in the State to uplift the textile industry. The spinning mills provide employment to four lakh people in the State, but several mills are on the verge of closure due to heavy losses.

A cabinet sub-committee headed by Finance Minister Yanamala Ramakrishnudu has formally moved a proposal to offer power at Rs 2 per unit to the spinning mills.