India : Next Year Will be The Indian Textile Year – Minister

To boost country''s textile brands in the global world garment market, Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, Union Textiles Minister said that 2004 will be observed as Indian Textiles Year. Hussian said that 2004 will be an important year for India as the mutli-fabric agreement would end allowing for liberal export of textile products in the global market.

He added that the Government would take appropriate measures to bring credibility to the Indian textile brands in the expanding global market. Shahnawaz also revealed that "NIFT India Fashion Week" will be held this winter with participation from all textile export bodies to create a "India" brand in the world textile market, ahead of the removal of the multi-fibre agreement by 2005. "We want to have serious business in the fashion week, and it would be an opportunity for buyers to look at Indian textile goods," Hussain said.

The National Institute of Fashion Technology would organise the event, with participation from various export bodies in apparel, silk, handloom and synthetic textiles, he said, adding it was to create opportunity for the Indian textile sector to grab more pie in the world market. Pointing out that Indian textile exports at Rs 60,000 crores contributed to 30 per cent of India''s exports and generated employment for nearly 10-crore people,

Hussain said the media was neglecting "Indian textiles" and promoting Information Technology. He said the media ignored the national textile fair at New Delhi which generated 10 times more business than the Lakme India Fashion Week held at the same time. "The NIFT India Week will have serious business, with seminars and an exhibition aimed at attracting world buyers," Hussain said, adding the entire gamut of textiles would be covered and upcoming designers promoted.