Modi ropes in ministers to attract investment, boost textile industry

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday roped in seven union ministers to hard sell India on the final day of "Textiles India2017" event here to attract foreign investment in the textile industry and to boost domestic players while urging them to focus on creating jobs. Union Ministers M. Venkaiah Naidu, Nitin Gadkari, Ananth Kumar, Nirmala Sitharaman, Radhamohan Singh, Mahesh Sharma and Rajiv Pratap Rudy took part in different sessions here at Mahatma Mandir and urged the players to help and support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Avision of "Make In India".

They explained that the government was working towards the modernisation of the various sectors of the textiles industry and emphasised that it was also working to develop skills, so as to create more employment opportunities.

"India is the only bright spot in the world economy and it has emerged as a most favourable destination. Great opportunities are awaiting in this sector for Indians and the foreign investors," Naidu told the concluding session of the threeday event that was inaugurated by Modi on June 30. "Textiles sector has ... contributed immensely towards socio-economic development. (It) has linkages to both agriculture and industry.

It contributes 10 per cent to India's manufacturing production," Naidu said.

Union Road Minister Gadkari said a new way of using geo-textile fabrics in road construction was very important and the government and engineering institutions were always ready to encourage and sponsor the amendment in this area.

“Geo-textile fabric is a new area, which can help reduce the cost of road construction," Gadkari said, addressing a session on "Exploring growth potential of technical textiles for building India".

Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh said the overall growth of natural fibre sector was important for the economy.