Question : EXPORT OF HOSIERY PRODUCTS

MINISTER OF STATE FOR TEXTILES (SHRI GINGEE N. RAMACHANDRAN)

(a) & (b) A Statement is attached.

Statement referred to in reply to Parts (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.4738 for answer on 24.08.2000

(a) & (b) The export target for hosiery products are not fixed separately. The exports of hosiery products during the last three years and current year is given below :-

(In Million US Dollar)
Product	1997-98	1998-99	1999-2000	2000-2001	(Apr.-Jul.)
Knitted Fabrics	80.58	71.71	63.34	20.61
Knitted made-ups	5.86	14.15	12.07	3.07
Knitted readymade garments	1,605.30	1,710.50	1,958.10	493.6+
+	Figures : For period April-June, 2000-2001

The major countries of export are USA, EU Member States, CIS countries, Japan and Saudi Arabia. The Government have been taking several steps from time to time to boost the export of textiles including hosiery products. Some of the important initiatives are as under:-

1) The Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme (TUF) has been made operational from 1-4-1999 to facilitate the modernisation and Upgradation of this sector so that it can become more competitive in international trade.

2) The facility to import capital goods under Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) Scheme at 5% concessional rate of duty.

3) Zero Duty import of certain categories of trimmings & embellishments.

4) Government has recently launched Technology Mission for Cotton. One of the important ingredients of the Mission is to improve cotton processing facilities by upgrading/modernising the existing ginning and pressing factories.

5) Allowing foreign equity participation upto 100%, through automatic route, in the textile sector with certain exceptions.

6) To prepare and sensitise our textile and garment industry to conform to the ecological requirements of importing countries by providing facilities by way of eco-testing laboratories.

7) National Institute for Fashion Technology (NIFT), its six branches and Apparel Training & Design Centres (ATDCs) are running various courses/programmes to meet skilled manpower requirements of textile industry in the field of design, merchandising and marketing.

8) The New Exporters` Entitlement (Quota) Policies announced for the period 2000-2004 to provide stability and continuity and encourage competitiveness in textile exports.