Union Textile Minister Smriti Irani calls for innovation in textiles sector

Textiles Minister Smriti Irani Saturday urged the industry to go for innovation and come forward in taking new initiatves.

She said that the government is pushing for small size firms to become mid-size as 80 per cent of the companies in the textiles industry are in the MSME sector. "Big players are many", she said.

Speaking at an interaction organised by Indian Chamber of Commerce here, Irani said "There is a need for innovation. The case of technical textiles is one such example."

Technical textiles finds its applications in automobiles, interior decoration, healthcare, industrial safety among others.

Irani said that the industry should work closely with the government so that the policies framed by the government could be implemented effectively.

Stating that the trade war between the US and China has opened up an opportunity for India, she said that there were dramatic challenges like development of infrastructure and making the workforce productive.

Regarding the jute sector, she said that India should go for more diversified products like Bangladesh.

Irani warned the jute industry that if the workers and farmers did not get money which the government gives for buying jute bags then the concerned company would stop getting orders.

-PTI