MINISTER OF TEXTILES
(SMT. SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)
(a) & (b): The imports and exports of technical textiles material during the last three years including April-January 2019-20 is furnished below:
Imports
(in Crores) Exports
(in crores) Net trade balance
(- imports) (+ exports)
(in crores)
2017-18 11342.43 9412.81 -1929.62
2018-19 15577.69 14012.82 -1564.87
2019-20
(April- December) 12437.20 11864.62 -572.58
With a view to boost exports and reduce imports and improve the trade balance, government has identified and brought 207 items of technical textiles items in January 2019 in HSN (Harmonised System Nomenclature) codes under Foreign Trade Policy within separate Appendix V. As may be observed from the table above, this action has improved the overall trade balance in the segment in favour of the country’s economy.
(c): Yes, Sir. The government has approved the proposal for creation of National Technical Textiles Mission for a period of 4 years (2020-21 to 2023-24) with an outlay of Rs.1480 crores. Following are the salient features of this Mission:-
1. Component -l (Research, Innovation and Development) with outlay of Rs. 1000 Crore. This component is for promotion of both (i) fundamental research at fibre level aiming at path breaking technological products in Carbon Fibre, Aramid Fibre, Nylon Fibre, and Composites and (ii) application based research in geo-textiles, agro-textiles, medical textiles, mobile textiles and sports textiles and development of bio-degradable technical textiles.
The fundamental research activities are proposed to be conducted in various Centre for Scientific &Industrial Research (CSIR) laboratories, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and other scientific/ industrial/academic laboratories of repute. Application based research is proposed to be conducted in CSIR, IIT, Research Design &Standards Organisation (RDSO) of Indian Railways, Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Defence Research &Development Organisation (DRDO), National Aeronautical Laboratory (NAL), Indian Road Research Institute (IRRI) and other such reputed laboratories.
2. Component -II (Promotion and Market Development)
This component is aimed at market development, market promotion, international technical collaborations, investment promotions and ''Make in India'' initiatives.
3. Component - III (Export Promotion)
The component is aimed at export promotion of technical textiles enhancing from the current annual value of approximately Rs.14000 Crore and ensuring 10% average growth in exports per year upto 2023-24. An Export Promotion Council for Technical Textiles is proposed to be set up for effective coordination and promotion activities in the segment.
4. Component- IV (Education, Training, Skill Development)
The component is aimed at promoting technical education at higher engineering and technology levels related to technical textiles and its application areas covering engineering, medical, agriculture, aquaculture and dairy segments. Skill development will be promoted and adequate pool of highly skilled manpower resources will be created for meeting the need of relatively sophisticated technical textiles manufacturing units.
? The focus of the Mission is also for promotion of the usage of technical textiles in various flagship missions, programmes of the country including strategic sectors. The use of technical textiles in agriculture, aquaculture, dairy, poultry, etc. Jal Jivan Mission; Swachch Bharat Mission; Ayushman Bharat is expected to bring an overall improvement in cost economy, water and soil conservation, better agricultural productivity and higher income to farmers per acre of land holding in addition to promotion of manufacturing and exports activities in India. The use of geo-textiles in highways, railways and ports will also result in robust infrastructure, reduced maintenance cost and higher life cycle of the infrastructure assets.
? Promotion of innovation amongst young engineering /technology/ science standards and graduates is proposed to be taken up by the Mission; alongwith creation of innovation and incubation centres and promotion of ''Start-Ups'' and Ventures''. The research output will be reposited with a ‘Trust’ with the Government for easy and assessable proliferation of the knowledge thus gained through research innovation and development activities.
? A sub-component of the research to focus on development of bio degradable technical textiles materials, particularly for agro-textiles, geo-textiles and medical textiles. It will also develop suitable equipment for environmentally sustainable disposal of used technical textiles, with emphasis on safe disposal of medical and hygiene wastes.
? There is another important sub-component in the research activity aiming at development of indigenous machineries and process equipment for technical textiles, in order to promote ''Make In India'' and enable competitiveness of the industry by way of reduced capital costs.
(d): The mission shall work for holistic development of entire technical textile sector on pan-India basis and is not any state specific.
(e): In order to boost a rapid growth of the technical textile segment in the country, the government has taken following major initiatives:-
(i) 207 technical textiles items have been brought under separate head in the Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN) code under the Foreign Trade Policy.
(ii) With a view to derive the benefits of technical textiles in various fields of applications, currently Ninety Two (92) application areas have been identified for mandatory use across Ten Central Ministries/Departments.
(iii) In addition to existing 348 IS standards on technical textiles, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) has further developed 16 more IS standards in January 2020.
(iv) Ministry of Textiles has included Six (6) additional courses for technical textiles in its Skill Development Programme (called Samarth).
(v) IIT Delhi has been assigned to conduct a baseline study on technical textiles sector.
(vi) The Ministry has issued Public Procurement (Preference to Make in India) Order dated 23.10.2019, prescribing Minimum Local Purchase Content for Technical textiles items in 10 segments for government procurement.
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